Tonight’s game between the Kentucky Wildcats and Oklahoma Sooners is going to be a war. This is also just the second round of the SEC Tournament.
Despite that, this has the feel of a Round of 32 NCAA Tournament game.
Kentucky edged Oklahoma by one point just 15 days ago in Norman, Oklahoma. Otega Oweh had 28 points for the Wildcats, including the last 18 Kentucky points. It was his game-winning bucket with less than 10 seconds remaining that lifted Kentucky to an 83-82 victory in what was an absolute battle.
Now, these two teams will battle again in the Second Round of the SEC Tournament tonight. Oklahoma is coming in with a lot of confidence, perhaps cockiness. They want revenge.
But this Kentucky team is coming into the SEC Tournament with a great mindset and momentum. Mark Pope is really embracing bringing his team down to Nashville to play in front of a massive presence from Big Blue Nation, and the players are completely bought into Pope’s embrace.
Here are my Keys to the Game for tonight’s Second Round SEC Tournament battle between No. 6 Kentucky (No. 15 AP) and No. 14 Oklahoma (Last 4 Byes, according to ESPN’s Joe Lunardi).
Keys to the Game
1. Pressure the ball: Lamont Butler’s defense against Missouri’s Anthony Robinson II this past Saturday was tremendous. It caused him and the rest of Missouri’s great shooters to be out of rhythm for a majority of the game, and Butler’s on-ball defense was a key catalyst in Kentucky’s 91-83 win.
Oklahoma made 12 three-pointers in the first half Wednesday night in their First Round win over Georgia, 10 of those coming in the first half.
That makes Butler’s on-ball defense tonight a crucial key to the game. His on-ball defense against Oklahoma’s Jeremiah Fears and Kobe Elvis will go a long way toward deciding this game.
2. Match Oklahoma’s intensity from the opening tip: Another reason Oklahoma is coming in confident and, maybe, cocky? They have momentum on their side.
The Sooners have won three straight games against Missouri, Texas and Georgia. Those were all highly important games with high stakes, and the Sooners won all of them.
Oklahoma is going to come out throwing everything they possibly can at Kentucky. The Wildcats must match that intensity from the opening tip. Do that, and Big Blue Nation will be rocking inside Bridgestone Arena tonight.
3. Rebounding: Kentucky has an advantage on the glass in this game, both in terms of height and statistically when it comes to rebounding. The Wildcats need to impose their will on the glass, both offensively and defensively, against the Sooners tonight.
4. Get out in transition: Not only will that lead to easy buckets at the rim, but it will also open up opportunities for three-point range. That means opportunities for Koby Brea and Ansley Almonor from beyond the arc. Kentucky being able to get out and run could play a significant role in deciding the outcome of tonight’s game.
This is going to be a battle inside Bridgestone Arena tonight. Oklahoma may be a little cocky and overconfident, but they are still going to throw the kitchen sink at Kentucky tonight.
But Otega Oweh is going to be ready for the game. He knows he needs to be the leader of this Kentucky team, and playing his former team in the SEC Tournament will be extra motivation for Kentucky’s leading scorer.
Kentucky, I believe, will prevail tonight and set up a third shot to beat Alabama on Friday night.
Final Score: Kentucky 86, Oklahoma 80
