NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Maybe Kentucky coach John Calipari wants to ease the pressure on his young Wildcats.
He’s busy talking about playing for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, though ending a drought with Kentucky’s first Southeastern Conference tournament title since 2004 would be good.
All those blue-clad fans heading to Nashville, determined to sneak through every nook and cranny to watch? They want to see the Wildcats resume their rightful place atop the SEC. Kentucky is the heavy favorite to take home a 26th tournament title after running to its 44th regular season title.
It won’t be easy starting Thursday. Mississippi State won four games in four days to take last year’s title, while Georgia did just that in 2008.