Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt: a bigger rivalry than you think!

When you think of Kentucky's most anticipated games on the hardwood each season, you think of games like Louisville, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Florida. Indiana has been a traditional rival as well over the years and Duke has given us both of our greatest and worst memories from the NCAA Tournament. There's another team that Kentucky has been playing nearly every season since 1912 that many of us don't even consider a huge rival, but they certainly are. I highly doubt that many UK fans circle the dates of both of the Vanderbilt basketball games each season as huge games on their calendars while looking through the upcoming schedule in October. However, through the years, the home-and-away series with Vanderbilt in the SEC East has had the most overall importance to success of a basketball season at Kentucky.

Two conference games with Vandy each year has traditionally held more significance on an overall season's success more so than any other rivalry game, including Louisville. A single game in the month of December really only serves as bragging rights for UK fans. In 1998, Kentucky lost to Louisville in December of Tubby Smith's first season but ended up cutting down the nets in April. On the contrary, they were able to run away with a last second victory at Memorial Gym that season against Vanderbilt. When it comes to winning SEC Championships and earning a high seed in the NCAA tournament, the Vanderbilt games are always crucial. On rare occasions, it has even been the difference between dancing and playing in the NIT.



You can go as far back as 1961, for example, when Mississippi State won the regular season SEC crown. In those days you had to win the conference regular season championship to even make the tournament. Mississippi State refused their invitation to the tournament that year because they had a policy against competing against African Americans. This actually forced a one game playoff between the two team's that were tied for 2nd: UK and Vanderbilt, with the winner going to "the big dance". The game was played on a neutral court in Knoxville. Kentucky won and advanced into the NCAA Tournament.

More recently, the Cats were off to a horrible 6-7 start in 2008 in Billy Gillispie's first year. The season seemed like it was lost before conference play had even began, but it was the Vanderbilt game at home that completely changed that season. Kentucky was 6-7 with losses to Gardner Webb and San Diego. Now, they had to open up the SEC slate against 16-0 and #13 ranked Vanderbilt. The Cats pulled it off in front of a frenzy crowd at Rupp in double overtime. They then proceeded to go 12-4 in conference play to miraculously make the NCAA Tournament despite the 6-7 start. The second game with Vandy at Memorial Gymnasium, however, was one of the most embarrassing losses in UK history, as they lost 93-52 in front of a nationally televised ESPN audience. The first win over Vanderbilt though was just enough for the Cats to earn a 16th straight NCAA Tournament birth. It was the signature win of that season and changed everything.

Both Vanderbilt games were also very memorable in the 2003 season. Tubby Smith's Cats' had faced early struggles that season. They had lost 3 early games and even lost an exhibition game to Team Nike. They were just starting to find their niche in SEC play, however, they were trailing Vanderbilt by 14 points early on. They were able to cut the deficit to 8 points at halftime, but the last 20 minutes of the game at Memorial Gymnasium is what really sparked that team into eventually winning 26 games in a row. The Cats' suffocating defense caused havoc for the Commodores in the 2nd half. Kentucky outscored Vandy 46-16 in the second half and ended up winning the game by a score of 74-52. Later that season, there were heavy hearts in Rupp for one of the most memorable UK Senior Day game's in history. The Cats slaughtered Vandy 106-44 while honoring would-be UK player John Stewart, a UK signee that tragically collapsed and died in a high school game after he had committed to play for the Cats.

You don't have to think back too far at all to remember the thrilling game this past season at Memorial when John Wall blocked a potential game winning shot with less than 10 seconds to go. Vanderbilt was able to get the ball back for a second shot at the win at the buzzer. John Calipari admittedly called a stupid timeout which allowed Kevin Stallings to set up another potential game winner, but A.J. Ogilvy's final attempt fell just short and the Cats escaped Nashville with a huge win. The first Vanderbilt game in 2010 was pivotal as well, coming right off the heels of the young Cats' first loss of the season at South Carolina. They now had to play a ranked Vanderbilt team with Lebron James watching over them in the first row of Rupp, but the Cats took care of business and won by double digits over a ranked team and maintained their lead in the SEC East.

The Kentucky-Vanderbilt rivalry is more than just a few great games over the years. Believe it or not, the Commodore's have given UK the most trouble, especially on the road, than any other team. UK's 25 losses at Memorial Gymnasium (23 against Vandy) are the most losses the Cats have had in any building in history outside of Lexington. They've lost 4 straight years in that building on two different occasions, from 1988-1991 and more recently from 2006-2009. Vandy has also beaten Kentucky four times while UK has been ranked #1 in the country, including in the 1951 SEC Tournament Championship Game in Louisville. No other program has beaten Kentucky as many times while ranked #1. Kentucky's rivalry with the closest SEC school to the state's border is one of the most under appreciated rivalries in all of college basketball.

Now, let's not get carried away though. I just realized that I was supposed to make fun of Vanderbilt in this piece and all I've done is compliment them and our rivalry with them. Comparing Vanderbilt and Kentucky as a whole is like comparing the Chicago Cubs and the New York Yankees since 1908. It would also be about as ridiculous as naming Kevin Stallings SEC Coach of the Year last season over John Calipari (wait...that actually happened, never mind). I mean, they pride themselves on academics but I doubt they have anyone with a GPA higher than Brandon Knight's 4.3. We even have them beat there! UK has beaten them a measly 133 times. Vandy has only made it past the Sweet 16 once (the elite 8 in 1965). They've won only one SEC Tournament Title (in 1952) compared to UK's 26. They've won 3 SEC Regular Season Titles compared to UK's 44. And the only two hot girls that have ever gone to school there will end up looking like this when they lose to us for the 134th time next year.

Cats spank Vols, advance to SEC Championship

Thousands of Big Blue Nation's craziest and most passionate fans have packed the city of Nashville, some with tickets and many without them. All of them dreamed of one matchup in this tournament: a rematch with Tennessee. They got just that on Saturday. The 74-45 blowout win with a 90% Big Blue crowd owning the Volunteer State's streets of Nashville is bittersweet for Cats fans. They put together their most dominating performance of the season against a very good Tennessee team that is the only team in history to beat the #1 and #2 teams (Kansas and Kentucky) in the country in the same season.

Today, however, it wasn't meant to be for the Vols. There were no John Wall dance mockery's by Scotty Hopson, only player ejections, as the Pro's defeated the Con's in Round 3. The Cats' dominating performance silenced many analysts who viewed the Cats as "vulnerable" and a poor 3 point shooting team, as Eric Bledsoe stroked five of them in the 29 point victory. The Cats also sealed their deal for a #1 seed with the win. They'll face the winner of the Vandy/Mississippi State game (MSU currently leads by 11) tomorrow at 1 in the Championship Game. Either matchup will be a heated one. Either the hometown Commodores will be playing in Rupp Arena South just minutes from their campus, or DeMarcus Cousins will be receiving more phone calls from Mississippi State fans as they hope to revenge their overtime loss in Starkville. Whatever tomorrow's result will be, the Cats will be a #1 seed. With a Kansas loss to Kansas State today, the Cats will then be playing for the #1 OVERALL seed. What a great day of basketball!

Clutch Cats win again, improve to 26-1.

I apologize on the late post, but I watched the game in Richmond last night at my Fraternity's Alumni Event that evening at EKU. If you ever go to Madison Gardens in Richmond, try their wings. They've got a unique blend of dry spices they put on them. It's a unique taste, but good and affordable on a college student budget. However, I do not suggest you watch a UK game there. The TV's are small and not situated too well. I generally like the place (despite the not so flattering reviews), I just don't recommend watching a UK game there. Other than the defensive heroics of John Wall in the final minute, the dominating performance of Cousins in limited play due to foul trouble, and the double-double performance by Patterson, it was kind of difficult to keep track of what was going on in the game with the TV set up. This time, instead of writing about the actual game, I'm going to write about the people I watched it with, the guy's that I call my Fraternity brothers.

It's always great to catch up with friends from school and it's even better when some of them can't stand the Cats. There's nothing more amusing and entertaining than watching someone get their hopes up that the Cats are going to go down, then- John Wall makes one of the most spectacular defensive plays I've ever seen at the end of the game to seal the win and also the hopes of haters everywhere. At EKU, you definitely have a lot of die-hard Cat fans that grew up watching the Cats their entire life. However, you also have a fraction of the student body from the Louisville area- many of which are UK fans and many of which are of course Little Brother fans. There's also a large chuck of students that come down from Ohio for a more affordable education.

The Buckeye's that attend EKU are even more delusional and obnoxious than even the Louisville fans, especially in football season. I don't understand how a fan base of such a great traditional football program finds so much joy in picking on and downplaying the success of a program like Kentucky that is making great strides and improvement each year in the nation's toughest conference. You don't see UK fans obsessive over OSU basketball because you know when you're unquestionably the best program in your sport, you don't spend too much time worrying about second rate programs. The Buckeye fans, deep down, aren't as confident about their place atop the mountain of college football as they would like you to think. If they were more confident in their program being the best in their sport, they wouldn't find it necessary to ridicule a football program like Kentucky's, that has struggled historically to finish in the top half of their conference on a yearly basis. When you ARE a second rate program (and I admit- Kentucky is one of those traditionally in football but that is changing), you are constantly rooting against and hating on the traditional powers even though they don't really care about your team at all.

These are the typical characteristics of the UK haters that I went to school with, and if you mention a certain Big Ten team's record against SEC schools in Bowl Games, they'll bring up some silly, obscure stat they looked up in one individual season and claim that the SEC is not dominant or even significantly tougher than the Big Ten on a consistant yearly basis (Matt Nunn). Their confidence and pride, or lack thereof, in their own programs (Louisville, Cincy, OSU) never fails to make me laugh and definitely also makes me thankful that I was born and raised on the right side of the Ohio River and grew up to Bleed Blue. However, I also want to thank these guys, because without the constant facebook arguments over Kentucky sports that even caused a group of Cardinal fans to protest my facebook membership is what encouraged me to create this site, a place where I can share my "biased and ridiculous" comments and opinions without rubbing people (opposing fans) the wrong way on facebook. Without them, Wildcat Wrap- which is nearing its 5,000th hit, would probably not exist.


Last night was one of those nights that I got to experience watching a UK game with a few of those haters, but also with some great Cat fans as well including Eli Roberts and Josh Ford- whom I thank for hooking me up with some great tickets a few weeks ago, 3 rows behind Alabama's bench in Rupp! Eli wanted his "shout out" on the wrap, and there it is (I had to find a way to work it in). And for the 26th time this year, myself, Eli, Ford, Cox, Jake, Burton and the rest of my Big Blue Fraternity Brethren enjoyed the last laugh Saturday night in Richmond as the Cats escaped with a hard fought victory in Memorial Gym for the first time since 2005 and almost certainly secured an SEC Regular Season Championship.

Just how big were the last 2 wins?

Since falling to South Carolina and losing the #1 ranking in the country, the Cats have bounced back with solid wins over #20 Vanderbilt and Ole Miss, who just barely dropped out of the rankings this week by just a matter of a few votes. Vandy and Ole Miss might just be the best 2 teams the Cats have played all year.

Before the season started and even through the month of December, the best teams and biggest wins on UK's schedule appeared to be UNC, UConn, and Louisville. All three of these teams have been major disappointments and all three of them will have to step it up just to make the NCAA Tournament. The Cats had counted on those three victories to be major factors in earning a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Now that those aforementioned wins aren't considered as big as they once were, the last 2 wins have been crucial.

In fact, if the season ended today, Vanderbilt and their 17-4 overall and 6-1 conference record would be the highest seed on UK's schedule to this point. If the Cats had lost to Vandy, they would've been 2 games behind the Commodores for 1st place in the SEC. Especially considering how hard it is to win on the road at Vandy and already down a game in the SEC Standings, beating Vandy at Rupp was a must win, and the Cats responded well to the loss in Columbia with a much needed win, and with Lebron James in attendance (just days after receiving a phone call from President Obama- and losing that night)!


Ole Miss would likely be seeded the 2nd highest on UK's schedule so far, with a 12 point win over Kansas State and "good" losses against Villanova, West Virginia, and in overtime at Tennessee. The Rebels feature one of the best players and NBA prospects in the league in Terrico White. White, from Memphis, TN, was recruited by Calipari to be a Memphis Tiger before he chose to attend Ole Miss, so you know the guy is for real. He attracted more NBA scouts to Rupp than any game this season but the Cats were up for the challenge. Much like Vanderbilt, the game was never really in doubt even though they never really pulled away and kept a large lead. In the end, however, it was another nice double digit win for the Cats which could end up being a factor in earning their #1 seed, if it ever is in doubt.

As they stand right now, the Cats are a lock as a #1 seed, but you never know what could happen the rest of the way with 2 games left against Tennessee, a rematch with South Carolina, and road games against Mississippi State, Vandy, and Florida. Even f they lose a few of those games, the last 2 wins have put the Cats on solid foundation to still get a #1 seed.

Battle for First Place in the SEC: UK vs Vandy

I know what most UK fans are probably thinking about tomorrow's game- Vandy's pretty good, but, there's no way UK will lose 2 games in a row. Well, just ask the Texas Longhorns what happened to them in back to back games after being ranked #1. Vandy's more than pretty good. They are VERY good. The Commodores have won 11 in a row and are coming off a win over Tennessee. They're undefeated in the SEC, and the winner of this game tomorrow takes claim to 1st place in the conference with a head-to-head tiebreaker. They are probably the most underrated team in the country. Calipari has commented that he thinks Vandy will be the best team his team has faced so far this year and that they should be ranked in the top 10. It will be interesting to see how the Cats respond to Tuesday's loss in Columbia. Tomorrow's game is HUGE and a very big test for the Cats! Luckily it is at home in Rupp, where I don't think the Cats will lose this year.

What a Weekend for the Big Blue...and oh yeah, WHO DEY!

FRIDAY: KENTUCKY 75, MOREHEAD STATE 59

What a weekend it was for Kentucky sports fans. It all started on Friday night when the Calipari era officially began with a solid 16 point win against an NCAA tournament team that returned four starters and an NBA Draft prospect. They did it without John Wall, and once again, Eric Bledsoe played fantastic at the point and even made the #1 play on Sportscenter. Eric Bledsoe is about the best back-up point guard I've seen since Wayne Turner backed up Tony Delk in 1996. I can't wait to see these two guys play together for the first time tomorrow night against Miami University. If Bledsoe sticks around, this kid is going to be very special. He set a new record for the most points for a UK freshman in thier first game ever with 24 points. Kentucky basketball is back in every way imaginable.

Morehead had the talent to pull another Gardner Webb or VMI, but those days are over. This was a game the Cats could have lost in the past two years playing nervous and mentally stressed from the mind games and coaching tactics of their former coach. This year, you can sense that everyone is just having fun and playing loose, and letting their talent simply take over. They know that the pressure and expectations are as high as they possibly could be, but it's just not bothering them in any way. The expectations of having to win every game is not anything new to Calipari's teams. At Memphis, his teams were expected to win every conference game, and they did. They were circled on every team's calendar in Conference USA as the biggest game of the year. Things are obviously no different at Kentucky. And not once, after UofL, Cincinnati, Marquette, Depaul, and South Florida left the league, did Memphis ever get beat by an inferior team in the conference. Not even a solid UAB or Houston team ever walked away with a victory over Memphis during that stretch, even though those same two teams were good enough to beat a Kentucky team filled with 4 and 5 star recruits in 2007.

It was also great to see Patterson stepping up and scoring 20 points and grabbing 12 rebounds after struggling in two exhibition games. He must have seen that I picked Jarvis Varnardo over him in my 1st Team All-SEC selections. If true, I actually feel like I had an impact on his play for motivating Patrick to prove me wrong! You know when he recently said that KSR was his most visited website, he was actually probably confused and meant to say that it was Wildcat Wrap.

SATURDAY: KENTUCKY 24, VANDY 13

For the fourth straight year, Kentucky football will be playing in a bowl game. That statement has never been made in the history of this program until Saturday when the Cats reached bowl eligibility for the fourth straight year with a win at Commonwealth Stadium Southwest. There was a sea of blue in Nashville to watch the Cats make history against the Commodores. With a

couple of big but attainable wins over Georgia and Tennessee, the Cats could even be playing in a very large and meaningful bowl game. If they're able to win one of the last two, the Peach Bowl is a likely destination on New Years Eve for the Cats in Atlanta. If they win both, it's possible that they could be packing their bags for Tampa for the Outback Bowl against Penn State or Iowa. To even be in this position is impressive with everything that this team has gone through. They went through a brutal 3 week stretch early on against Florida, Alabama, and South Carolina and came out of the first five games with a 2-3 record.

They had one of the worst quarters you could ever imagine against Florida, but they battled back to make it a respectable final outcome. The next week, there were more than a few questionable calls that went in Alabama's favor that if not made, would have been a totally different game. The week after that, the Cats' led almost the entire game and Mike Hartline was playing his best game of his career. Then, he got hurt and the Cats let one slip away in a devastating 2 point loss to South Carolina. Just as Hartline had finally solidified himself as "the guy", he gets hurt and the Cats are forced to switch to a three quarterback rotation. Amazingly, the three headed quarterback of true freshman Morgan Newton, Will Fidler, and Randall Cobb each had a rushing touchdown and shocked a 5-1 Auburn team on the road. Morgan Newton would eventually emerge as the primary quarterback as a true freshman and has struggled at times like a true freshman in the SEC should struggle (remember when Matthew Stafford lost to UK and Vandy as a true freshman in 2006?).

But, in the end, Newton has won 2 out of 3 SEC games with the help of Randall Cobb doing just about everything except kicking field goals. Cobb and Derrick Locke combined for 144 rushing yards after the duo both sat out last week's game against EKU. Locke even completed a pass for a gain of 41 yards to Morgan Newton who was lined up as a receiver while Cobb was under center. Cobb made a reverse handoff to Locke, and then Locke found Newton wide open down field. On the very next play, Cobb was in the "Wildcobb" formation again and ran it 21 yards into the endzone to give the Cats a 7-0 lead. Plays like these are ones that need to be called more often from Joker Phillips for the next two years with Randall Cobb. If he's utilized to his full potential, he will emerge as college football's best player by his senior year.

Along with the heroics of Randall Cobb and Derrick Locke, Newton has stepped up when his number was called as a freshman quarterback and put UK in a position to possibly play in a very big bowl game. With the announcement that Hartline will have season ending surgery, Newton has the chance to do something that hasn't been done in Lexington in a very long time: beat Tennessee.

"It is a huge step and you can't downplay that in my mind because it's never happened," UK coach Rich Brooks said about reaching a fourth straight bowl game. "But at the same token we're not happy with where we are at this stage. We had a close one get away at South Carolina and we didn't play as well as we're capable against Mississippi State. We'd be looking a lot better right now if we had won one of those. Those were very tough losses but I'm proud of how the team has bounced back. Now we just want to climb the ladder a little higher."

Beating Georgia and Tennessee to cap off the regular season would certainly help the Cats climb up that SEC ladder that Coach Brooks keeps on talking about. In a few years, when Newton is a junior and Randall Cobb is a senior, hopefully the tandem will take this program to the unimaginable next level: the BCS.

"It's significant. We won't be satisfied with a 6-6 finish but we've taken one step from the bottom of the SEC to the middle of the pack and now we've got to build toward the top," senior defensive tackle Corey Peters said.

SUNDAY: BENGALS 18, STEELERS 12

(Photo courtesy of Cincinnati.com)

Last but certainly not least, I absolutely have to give a shout out to WHO DEY NATION! The Bengals completed the sweep today against the defending Super Bowl Champs, and it is in no way delusional now to start talking about the Lombardi trophy coming to Cincinnati. With games coming up against Oakland, Cleveland, and Detroit...the Bengals could be looking at a 10-2 record. Yes, 10-2, (could be 11-1 if not for the immaculate deflection in week 1 against Denver). They could also complete an undefeated season in the AFC North with a win against Cleveland. Then, if they're able to knock off Brett Favre and the Vikings, the Bengals could seriously win out.

Brown's Picks - College Football Week 11

I knew last week was a potential disappoint for me. I picked some of the right winners, but the spread is what did me in. I went a dismal 2-6 last week, which brings my overall record to 7-9. Hopefully, this week will treat me better. It’s a shorter list of games because I’ll also be doing some of the big College Basketball games for this weekend.

West Virginia @ Cincinnati (-9.5)

Huge Friday night game in the race for the Big East Championship. Sophomore Zach Collaros will be starting again for the Bearcats but Cincy coach Brain Kelly has said Tony Pike will get some playing time. Cincinnati is coming off a nail-biter against UCONN last week, but I expect the Bearcat Defense to show up tonight. This is a game Cincinnati needs to win before the big matchup with Pitt in a couple weeks. I think WVU keeps it close, but the Bearcats pull it out with a 10 points victory, just barely covering

PICK : CINCINNATI

Iowa @ Ohio St. (-16.5)

This is the Big Ten Championship game. Terrelle Pryor looked pretty good last week at Penn St. He was effective running and throwing the ball and looked like the QB Buckeyes fans have been waiting for. On the other side of the field, the Hawkeyes are coming off a crushing loss to Northwestern and will be playing without starting quarterback Ricky Stanzi, who had surgery on his ankle after injuring it in last week’s loss. Iowa has been in every game this year and I don’ expect anything different this weekend. The Buckeyes win, but not by 17 points.

PICK: IOWA

Clemson (-8) @ NC State

Clemson is in the driver’s seat to win the ACC Atlantic Division and potentially win their first conference championship since 1990. The Tigers’ offense has been rolling, scoring 38 points in four straight games for the first time in the program’s history. Kyle Parker and CJ Spiller should have a big day against an NC State defense that is allowing almost 30 points a game. Clemson shouldn’t have too much trouble with a struggling Wolfpack. Clemson wins this one by 13.

PICK: CLEMSON

Kentucky (-3) @ Vanderbilt

The Wildcats need this one. Kentucky is going into Nashville with a 5-4 (1-4) record. A win this Saturday would make them bowl eligible, and just in time; their last two games are between the Hedges in Athens, GA and at home against an up-and-down Tennessee teams. Those games are winnable for the Cats, but I’m sure they would feel much better going into those games with a bowl already wrapped up. Vanderbilt shouldn’t be much of a test for Kentucky; the Commodores have a scoring margin of -5.8 this year. I think 3 points is a pretty low spread, I see the Cats winning by double digits.

PICK: KENTUCKY

Utah @ TCU (-19.5)

It seems funny to say this about a game in the Mountain West, but this is a big game on the national scene. TCU leap frogged (pun definitely intended) Cincinnati last week to move to #4 in the BCS standings. I had a chance to see TCU earlier this year when they visited Death Valley and handed my Tigers a loss. Let me tell you, they are the real deal. Quarterback Andy Dalton is the real deal and has the HornedFrogs rolling. This game may be in Forth Worth but Utah is very familiar with TCU and ended the Frogs’ hopes at a BCS birth a year ago. TCU will win this game, but not by 20 points.

PICK: UTAH

This is an abbreviated version of Brown’s Pick for Football this week. Check back later tonight for my run-down of some of the big basketball games this weekend.

GO TIGERS!!!

News and Notes

• Be sure to check out tomorrow's edition of "Brown's Pick's" for this week's college football games (and maybe even a few basketball picks).
• A UofL basketball preview will also be appearing soon on the site.
• You can also expect NFL picks sometime soon, maybe this week.
• And at some point (maybe tomorrow evening), I will break down the College Hoops Top 25 and give you my most overrated and underrated teams.
• Then of course, Friday is GAMEDAY! A busy weekend may prevent me from the necessary coverage that should be given to the first regular season game of the Calipari era, but hopefully someone else can step up.
• Also, a BIG game for Bengals fans on Sunday! The Wildcat Wrap of the Vandy football game will also include a wrap up of the Bengals-Steelers game and will be posted either Sunday night or Monday morning.
• Next week we'll also start to cover the KHSAA State Football Playoffs.

A few other points of interest:

1. Every college basketball game I've watched so far, they have EXTENSIVELY talked about the Cats. It's great to be back!
2. UNC has now come within 2 games of UK in All-Time wins, however, the race to 2,000 still appears to be the Cats' race to lose.
3. The Cats were picked on the insanely premature edition of ESPN's Bracketology as a #1 seed facing an in-state team in the first round, the Murray State Racers.
4. Murray State only lost at 12th ranked California by just 5 points the other night. Way to go Racers, representing the state very well!
5. Last but not least, the Morehead game isn't going to be that easy...they're very good. I feel bad for Eastern as they appear to be well behind their other 2 in-state conference rivals this season.

2010 SEC Basketball Preview: Eastern Division

SEC East Predictions

1. Kentucky (AP ranked 4th): Kentucky has the most talent since their 1996 team which is considered by many to be the best college basketball team ever assembled. They are by far the most improved team in the league, and in the country. Patrick Patterson was picked by the coaches as Preseason SEC Player of the Year, while John Wall has been picked by many as Preseason NATIONAL Player of the Year. Demarcus Cousins is also a likely lottery pick in next year's NBA draft, but might only be the third Wildcat picked. We could go on and on about this roster all the way down to the bottom, but there's 11 other teams to talk about. (#1 Seed, NCAA)

2. Tennessee (AP ranked 10th): Seniors Wayne Chism, Tyler Smith, Bobby Maze, and JP Prince make the Volunteers one of the most experienced team in the country and also return a super sophomore from the bluegrass state in Scotty Hopson. UT could find itself as a top 10 team and a #1 or 2 seed in March and they'll get thier chance at #1 ranked Kansas on January 10th, but the Volunteers couldn't even beat Kentucky LAST year in two tries. It will certainly be a much tougher task to do so this year, but at least Jodie Meeks is gone... (#2 Seed, NCAA)

3. South Carolina: PG Devan Downey passed up the NBA to return for another season in Columbia. Downey vs. Wall will be one of the best individual matchups in the entire country this season. They should find themselves in the top 15 when it's all said and done. (#4 Seed, NCAA)

4. Vanderbilt: The Commodores' return their star Center, A.J. Ogilvy, from last season and all the Internet rumors (from UNC and Vandy boards) say that they beat North Carolina on Sunday in a secret scrimmage by double digits. We'll see for sure how good Vandy is in early season regular season games vs. Cincinnati and Missouri. (#7 Seed, NCAA)

5. Florida: Billy Donovan's program has slipped since their back to back National Titles 2 years ago. Still, it shows how good the SEC (especially the East division) is with a team only a few years removed from a National Championship picked by many to finish 5th in the division. (#1 Seed, NIT)

6. Georgia: It's gonna be a rough year for first year head coach Mark Fox, although the Bulldogs will still be improved from last year. (SEC tourney, 1st round loss)



That my friends, is a breakdown of the best division in all of college basketball. Hope everybody enjoyed picking on the SEC while it was down. Tomorrow I'll break down the Western Division.

College Hoops is Officially Here!

It feels so great to be able to sit in the comfort of my home and watch some college basketball on ESPN U in high definition. Sorry Rob Bromley and the Big Blue Network, but I will not miss you once games start to matter and the Cats are playing on CBS and ESPN. It's currently halftime of the infamous 2K Sports Classic tournament opener (the same one in which Gardner Webb officially ended the Billy Gillispie honeymoon in his second game as UK's coach 2 years ago).

Tonight's most intriguing game is featuring the defending National Champion, North Carolina Tar Heels, and a Florida International team led by Isiah Thomas in his first game as a college head coach (who will visit fabulous Richmond, KY on November 28th to face EKU in Alumni Coliseum). Internet rumors all around have been claiming that UNC played a "secret scrimmage" on Sunday against Vanderbilt and lost by double digits. It's no rumor that the scrimmage occurred, that is a fact. But it's against NCAA violations to sell tickets to these scrimmages or publicize them in any way. We will never really know what the official results were, but word on the street is that the Commodores won comfortably. The Tar Heels have looked okay so far tonight with a 16 point lead at halftime, but they're nowhere near where they were a year ago and quite frankly I don't think they're anywhere near Calipari's Cats. Nonetheless, they should pick up a game on us tonight in the race to 2,000 victories.

As the week concludes and gets closer to the Cats' regular season opener against Morehead State on Friday, I will give you an official Wildcat Wrap preview of the much improved Southeastern Conference. I'll specifically break down the SEC East (the best division in all of college basketball this season) and I will break down the top 25 polls and give you my most overrated and underrated teams.