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The Kentucky Wildcats (20-9) host the Vanderbilt Commodores (16-13) Wednesday in the Wildcats’ last home game of the regular season. Kentucky is on a four-game win streak and are making a push for a Top 5 seed in the NCAA tournament. Vanderbilt is coming off of a win over Florida and holds a solid position in the SEC standings. Tipoff for the matchup is slated for 7 p.m.
Senior Night at Rupp Arena!
🆚 Vanderbilt
⏰ 7:00 p.m. ET
📺 @SECNetwork
📻 @UKSportsNetwork pic.twitter.com/reef3ONblB— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) March 1, 2023
Senior Night for Kentucky
Kentucky will hold its senior night approximately 30 minutes before tipoff. They will be honoring six total seniors including the reigning National Player of the Year, Oscar Tshiebwe. Tshiebwe is a major part of the Wildcats’ recent success. He’s averaging 16.4 points and 12.8 rebounds per game and his dominance on both sides of the ball have put the Wildcats back on the map after a rocky start to the season.
Kentucky has four players averaging double figures. They currently sit in third in the SEC and will look to defend home court against the Commodores who lost only one game in February.
Senior Night 2023 is going to be a special one.
Honoring Jacob, CJ, Sahvir, Antonio, Brennan and Oscar on Wednesday night at Rupp. pic.twitter.com/wEvddgdp83
— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) February 28, 2023
Vanderbilt Flipping the Script?
Vanderbilt began the season with some brutal losses. It seemed as if they would have a .5oo season at best with tough SEC play on its horizon. However, the Commodores came into February and changed everything. They went 6-1 during the month, including notable victories over Tennessee and Auburn. The Commodores now sit in a spot to compete for an SEC title.
Forward Liam Roberts is leading the team with 15.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Roberts notably recorded 32 points and 10 rebounds against Florida, earlier this season. He’s been huge in Vanderbilt’s efforts to rise up the conference rankings. Roberts will be key on defense when clashing with Tshiebwe in the paint.
The Commodores will have to play some of its best basketball, Wednesday. It will be a hostile crowd for senior night in Lexington and Kentucky is one of the hottest teams in the nation.
on to March. pic.twitter.com/Oifn5JP07u
— Vanderbilt Men's Basketball (@VandyMBB) February 28, 2023
NCAA Projections for Both Squads
Joe Lunardi currently has Kentucky as a No. 6 seed in the NCAA tournament. Barring an SEC Championship win, they are projected to hover around the middle seeds.
Vanderbilt is not currently a team that is in consideration for a tournament spot. Its only real chance of making it is if they complete a miraculous run in the SEC tournament, giving them an auto-bid for March.
