Around the SEC: Men’s basketball weekly recap
Vanderbilt stays hot to upset Florida, Kentucky fights to keep an eight-game win streak alive and more from the final week of the SEC season.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee redshirt senior forward #21 Lew Evans helps up freshman forward #2 Grant Williams during the Vols' game against Missouri on Feb. 18, 2017, in Thompson-Boling Arena.
Week of Feb. 27 – March 5
Volunteers split games with LSU and Alabama
Tennessee continued its season-long trend of showing up for some games and not for others. The Vols dropped an important game against LSU in Baton Rouge earlier in the week, 92-82. Grant Williams came up big with 16 points and 14 rebounds. This loss extended Tennessee’s losing streak to three games, but the streak was severed later in the week. The Vols rallied late on Senior night to beat Alabama 59-54. Williams again came up big with 16 points and 10 rebounds. This game was a tale of two halves. Alabama was 7-9 from deep in the first half but the Volunteer’s defense only allowed 18 total points in the second.
Vanderbilt stays too hot to handle in victory over Florida
The Commodores have now won four of their last five after their win against the Gators. Vanderbilt improved to 10-8 in the SEC with the 73-71 win and the Gators dropped to 14-4. Commodore forward Luke Kornet led all scores with 24 points and also had six rebounds and two blocks. The Commodores have put together an impressive resume for the NCAA tournament. They are considered a bubble team and have a realistic chance for an at-large bid.
Kentucky keeps rolling down the stretch
The Wildcats are on an eight-game win streak after wins over Vanderbilt and Texas A&M. The No. 9 Wildcats are dominating the SEC and are peaking at exactly the right time for tournament play. Malik Monk was the leading scorer for Kentucky with 27 points in the win over the Commodores, and De’Aaron Fox was the leading scorer with 19 against the Aggies. With the win over Texas A&M, the Wildcats clinched the SEC regular season title. Kentucky is projected to win the SEC tournament and has a great shot to win the NCAA tournament.
All results
Alabama Crimson Tide – W 70-55 vs Ole Miss, L 59-54 at Tennessee
Arkansas Razorbacks – L 78-65 at Florida, W 85-67 vs Georgia
Auburn Tigers – L 79-78 at Georgia, W 89-78 vs Missouri
Florida Gators – W 78-65 vs Arkansas, L 73-71 at Vanderbilt
Georgia Bulldogs – W 79-78 vs Auburn, L 85-67 at Arkansas
Kentucky Wildcats – W 73-67 vs Vanderbilt, W 71-63 at Texas A&M
LSU Tigers – W 92-82 vs Tennessee, L 88-76 at Mississippi State
Mississippi State Bulldogs – L 63-57 at South Carolina, W 88-76 vs LSU
Missouri Tigers – L 60-43 vs Texas A&M, L 89-78 at Auburn
Ole Miss Rebels – L 70-55 at Alabama, W 75-70 vs South Carolina
South Carolina Gamecocks – W 63-57 vs Mississippi State, L 75-70 at Ole Miss
Tennessee Volunteers – L 92-82 at LSU, W 59-54 vs Alabama
Texas A&M Aggies – W 60-43 at Missouri, L 71-63 vs Kentucky
Vanderbilt Commodores – L 73-67 at Kentucky, W 73-71 vs Florida
Edited by Quinn Pilkey
Featured image by Brad Blackwelder
