In just two days, Kenny Brooks and the Kentucky women’s basketball team will embark on their March journey, and there won’t be any time for the tired.
The Wildcats must turn things around quickly after a taxing, gritty game against No. 3 South Carolina. On Wednesday morning, Kentucky, ranked ninth, will travel to Greenville, South Carolina, to play the Arkansas Razorbacks, ranked sixteenth.
Even though the Cats defeated the Hogs 93-73 in Fayetteville earlier in the season, the postseason is quite different. Despite their struggles under first-year head coach Kelsi Musick, Arkansas is still a formidable team, scoring a season-high 92 points when it gets hot from the outside.
Kentucky women’s basketball’s SEC Tournament path in Greenville revealed
The SEC Tournament will take place at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena from Wednesday, March 4 through Sunday, March 8. This is how the first round looks:
- Game 1: 9-seed Kentucky vs. 16-seed Arkansas, 11 a.m. (SEC Network)
- Game 2: 12-seed Florida vs. 13-seed Mississippi State, 1:30 p.m.
- Game 3: 10-seed Texas A&M vs. 15-seed Auburn, 6 p.m.
- Game 4: 11-seed Alabama vs. 14-seed Missouri, 8:30 p.m.
A chance for retaliation is imminent if the Cats defeat Arkansas. They would then play Georgia, the eighth-seeded squad who defeated the Cats 72-67 earlier this season while Teonni Key was still out due to an elbow ailment. A rematch with No. 1 South Carolina is the “prize” if you win that.
“Battle tested” and ready
Kenny Brooks doesn’t care about seeding issues or scoreboard watching despite the challenging bracket. His entire attention is on his locker room’s well-being and self-assurance.
“I don’t care about any other team. I don’t care about any other league,” Brooks said. “I just want to get there and get healthy. I don’t care where we have to play… we’re battle tested. We’ve been at Vanderbilt with a chance to win. We’ve been at Texas with a chance to win. We won at Louisville. We’re fine.”
For the first time in his career, Brooks is “not worried” about the seeding. His message to the Big Blue Nation is straightforward: this team can play anywhere if they have confidence.
“As long as I have them ready and they feel comfortable and confident, we’ll go anywhere and play anybody,” Brooks said. “That’s what I’ll get them ready for.”
