Kentucky gets a rematch with Vanderbilt that Calipari did not want in SEC Tournament
After Kentucky beat Vanderbilt 77-70 on Feb. 2, John Calipari said he hoped the teams would not play again in the Southeastern Conference Tournament.
The UK coach did not get his wish.
Vanderbilt beat Alabama 82-76 Thursday night to advance to a quarterfinal game against Kentucky Friday night.
“Tough matchup,” Calipari said late Thursday night after Vandy’s comeback win. “(Guard Scotty) Pippen (Jr.) has killed us. Probably averaged 40 (points) a game against us.
“And when you get in these environments, if a guy can go put up 40, you’re probably losing.”
To be precise, Pippen was plenty lethal against Kentucky in the regular season, but he averaged 32.5 points. In two games against UK, he made 22 of 41 shots (eight of 16 on threes).
Not for the first time, Calipari used the word “crafty” to describe Pippen’s game. Shooting threes, a “great layup shooter,” creating space are ways Pippen’s craftiness presents a challenge, the UK coach said.
Calipari also mentioned 7-footer Liam Robbins, a transfer from Minnesota who led the Big Ten in blocks last season.
An injury delayed Robbins’ debut this season until the second game against Kentucky. He did not score and grabbed two rebounds in 14 minutes.
“Their big guy is getting more comfortable . . . ,” Calipari said of Robbins. “So, they’ve got one more weapon that they didn’t have early.”
On Monday, Robbins was asked about a potential matchup against UK’s Oscar Tshiebwe, who would be named the SEC’s Player of the Year the next day. Robbins mentioned that he could call on the experience of playing against several accomplished big men in the Big Ten.
“He’s a really talented player,” Robbins said of Tshiebwe. “There’s no taking away from that.
“I went against some really versatile offensive guys in the Big Ten. Not saying Oscar isn’t.”
Robbins mentioned Luka Garza, a consensus All-American for Iowa.
“You had to chase him around the three-point line,” Robbins said. “He was probably the most skilled player I’ve played against.”
Robbins also mentioned Kofi Cockburn of Illinois. “The most physically imposing” opponent, the Vandy big man said.
Tshiebwe scored a career-high 30 points in the first game against Vandy. In the two games, he averaged 20.5 points and 15 rebounds.
As the regular season ended, Calipari said he wanted the Kentucky team not to be focused on winning the SEC Tournament. Instead, he said he wanted UK to see the event as a means to improving its NCAA Tournament seed.
With Vandy set as Kentucky’s first opponent, Calipari said that the spectrum of possible seeds for UK was impossible to calculate.
In terms of affecting NCAA Tournament seeding, CBS bracketologist Jerry Palm did not see much at stake for Kentucky in the SEC Tournament.
Palm had Kentucky as a two-seed in his NCAA Tournament bracket. He did not see a possible loss to Vanderbilt affecting UK’s seed, Palm wrote in a text.
Vanderbilt has a 17-15 record. Before the SEC Tournament, Coach Jerry Stackhouse acknowledged disappointment in having to play in the first round. But he said the Commodores would be hoping to play five games in Tampa, which would mean advancing to Sunday’s championship game.
By contrast, Calipari spoke of trying to avoid any pressure to win the SEC Tournament. He suggested UK’s proven depth as helpful in that effort.
“If you struggle on a certain day, we’ve got somebody else . . . ,” he said. “Prepare to play great. No pressure on you to be the best of the best.”
Exceptional Vandy
Vanderbilt is the only team with a winning record against Kentucky in the SEC Tournament. The Commodores have won five of the nine games the teams have played in the event.
Vandy has won its last two games against Kentucky in the SEC Tournament. That includes the 2012 championship game.
After losing by six and nine points in two regular-season games, Vandy beat eventual national champion UK 71-64 in the SEC Tournament finals.
Friday
Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt
What: SEC Tournament quarterfinal
Where: Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla.
When: About 8:30 p.m.
TV: SEC Network
Radio: WLAP-AM 630, WBUL-FM 98.1
Records: Kentucky 25-6, Vanderbilt 17-15
Series: Kentucky leads 153-47.
Last meeting: Kentucky won 77-70 on Feb. 2, 2022, in Rupp Arena.
SEC Tournament scores, schedule
At Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla.
Wednesday
No. 12 Missouri 72, No. 13 Ole Miss 60
No. 11 Vanderbilt 86, No. 14 Georgia 51
Thursday
No. 8 Texas A&M 83, No. 9 Florida 80, OT
No. 5 LSU 76, No. 12 Missouri 68
No. 10 Mississippi State 73, No. 7 South Carolina 51
No. 11 Vanderbilt 82, No. 6 Alabama 76
Friday
Noon: No. 1 Auburn (27-4) vs. No. 8 Texas A&M (21-11)
About 2:30 p.m.: No. 4 Arkansas (24-7) vs. No. 5 LSU (22-10)
6 p.m.: No. 2 Tennessee (23-7) vs. No. 10 Mississippi State (18-14)
About 8:30 p.m.: No. 3 Kentucky (25-6) vs. No. 11 Vanderbilt (17-15)
Saturday
1 p.m.: First semifinal
About 3:30 p.m.: Second semifinal
Sunday
1 p.m.: Championship game
TV
▪ Friday night’s quarterfinals (SEC Network)
▪ Friday’s afternoon quarterfinals, semifinals and championship game (ESPN)
This story was originally published March 11, 2022 at 7:05 AM.
