With SEC regular-season championship in hand, Kentucky reaches for more
Although Kentucky has clinched the Southeastern Conference regular-season championship and the all-important NCAA Tournament is only two weeks away, assistant coach Joel Justus said that UK has incentive to play well against Tennessee on Tuesday night and at Florida on Saturday.
“What Coach Cal (John Calipari) told the team before the game on Saturday (was) every game, whether it’s in March or whether it’s in November, you try to get better each time you step on the court,” Justus said.
UK will look for improvement to take the form of more consistent play and better ball security from Ashton Hagans, for Immanuel Quickley to grow more comfortable with “the burden” of being the leading scorer and focus of opponents’ game planning, and more contributions from such reserves as Keion Brooks, Johnny Juzang and Nate Sestina.
Coronavirus update
With postseason tournaments nearing, the NCAA and SEC have issued statements saying the coronavirus outbreak is being monitored. Neither the NCAA nor SEC has taken action limiting or prohibiting fan attendance at tournament games.
“The SEC office remains in communication with our members as we all monitor the latest information from public officials,” the SEC said in a statement. “The conference has not modified any scheduled events while reminding everyone to be attentive to everyday preventive actions identified by The Center for Disease Control and Prevention.”
The NCAA released a similar statement, which read in part, “NCAA staff continues to prepare for March Madness. But, we are keenly aware of coronavirus, and will continue to monitor in coordination with local health authorities and the CDC.”
Quickley makes history
Quickley made UK basketball history Monday when the SEC named him co-Player of the Week. He became the first Wildcat in the history of the SEC weekly awards (dating back to the 1984-85 season) to be named SEC Player of the Week in consecutive weeks. He became the first player from any SEC team to do so since Tennessee’s Admiral Schofield won two straight in December 2018.
The SEC also named Arkansas guard Mason Jones as co-Player of the Week.
Quickley averaged 24.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals in Kentucky’s victories over Texas A&M and Auburn. He made nine three-pointers in that two-game stretch.
“I think it’s confidence,” Justus said of Quickley averaging 23.8 points in UK’s last four games. “His confidence is sky high.”
Senior Night
Joining Sestina on Senior Night will be his parents, Don and Ricki, and a sister, Kristin.
His other sister, Jennifer, could not make the trip. Neither could brothers Jason and Andrew, who both are in the Marines.
Sestina said his future plans include “playing professionally, wherever that is. It’s been a dream of mine, too. To be a professional basketball player and make money playing the game I love.”
Odds shorten
The betting website BetOnline shortened the odds of Kentucky winning the national championship. The odds were 20-1 on Feb. 4 and 14-1 with Monday’s update.
Kansas remains BetOnline’s favorite at 3-2, which is slightly lengthened from 2-4 a month earlier.
UK has the fifth-best odds at 14-1 along with Duke and San Diego State.
The odds of a Louisville championship lengthened from 9-1 to 16-1.
BetOnline also lengthened the odds of Tennessee winning the national championship from 50-1 to 100-1.
Gala set
The 15th annual Dick Vitale Gala will be held May 8 in Sarasota, Fla., it was announced Monday. The gala is a fundraiser for pediatric cancer research.
This year’s gala will honor Gonzaga Coach Mark Few, ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith and Tampa Bay Buccaneers Coach Bruce Arians.
More information on the gala is available at www.v.org, which is also where donations can be made.
Book signing
ESPN analyst Jimmy Dykes is doing a book signing from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday outside the Hyttops Sports Bar, which is next to the Hyatt Hotel lobby.
Dykes has written a book entitled “The Film Doesn’t Lie: Evaluating Your Life One Play at a Time.” It will be in bookstores on Tuesday as well as at the signing.
Dykes described the book as a means toward self-evaluation of the key areas in life. The book contains stories about his 30-plus years in college basketball as a coach and working for ESPN.
“The reader will be challenged to search their heart,” Dykes wrote in a text message, “and pursue a more authentic walk with God.”
Etc.
Karl Ravech, Jimmy Dykes and sideline reporter Marty Smith will call the game for ESPN.
