Show Me My Opponent, 2023-24: Kentucky, Part Two
A battle between one man named John and the evil post-loss radio show
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Uh…well…it’s a rivalry game, still? And Senior Day! Barring you living under a rock or in Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s cave under WWE HQ, Tennessee wrapped up the SEC title race on Wednesday with a nice road win at South Carolina. Consequently, for Tennessee this is kind of a guilt-free game for conference purposes. Nationally, they do need to win it to secure a 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Win this one and barring a slip-up in the SEC Tournament I’m not sure what Arizona could do in the next week to change anything.
This does matter a lot for Kentucky. A win here almost locks up a 4 seed or better for them on Selection Sunday with a chance at a 3. It would also secure no worse than a 3 seed in the SEC Tournament, which mostly just helps Kentucky avoid a potential Thursday pratfall in Nashville. Objectively, they probably have more to play for.
That does not mean it means more to Kentucky. This is the last chance to see program legends Santiago Vescovi, Josiah-Jordan James, and Dalton Knecht in Tennessee uniforms. Knecht only had the one year, but you’ll remember him forever. If anyone deserves a sendoff where they beat their biggest rival, it’s these three.
Kentucky’s litany of shooters will be there to make an otherwise win-win atmosphere a sour one.
BEHIND THE WALL ($): Two turntables and a microphone