March 4, 2010
Cat Scratches: UK Hoops learning to deal with new postseason expectations
DULUTH, Ga. – The 19th-ranked Kentucky women’s basketball team will face 10th-seeded Auburn in the quarterfinals of the Southeastern Conference Tournament Friday, March 5. It marks the Cats’ third game against Auburn this season, including the second meeting in less than a week. The game will be carried live on FSN and the Big Blue Sports Network (radio) with Neil Price from The Arena at Gwinnett Center in Duluth, Ga. Tip time is slated for a 2:30 p.m. EST start.
| Gameday Information | |
|---|---|
| Game Notes |
Kentucky Notes  | Auburn Notes |
| Date & Time | Friday, Mar. 5 2:30 p.m ET |
| Coverage |
Tourney Central TV: FSN Radio: BBSN Online Audio  Live Video via ESPN360 Live blog Text Updates |
| Location | Gwinnett Center Duluth, Ga. |
Kentucky earned the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye for the third time in five years by recording one of its most impressive seasons in school history. Despite being picked to finish 11th in the preseason polls by league coaches and media, the Cats won a school-record 11 SEC games and are 23-6 overall. UK’s second-place finish is the highest since the league moved to its current 12-team format in 1992 and since the 1982-83 squad finished second in the East when the SEC had a 10-team, divisional format.
Auburn is the 10th seed with a 15-15 overall record and a 5-11 mark in the SEC. The Tigers defeated Florida in the opening round on Thursday, 74-61.
The Wildcats should be quite familiar with Auburn as the teams will meet for the third time on Friday. UK just met the Tigers last Sunday in Auburn, falling 65-53 in the final women’s basketball game in Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum. UK won in convincing fashion in the teams’ first meeting on Jan. 24 in Lexington, 68-50.
UK is 20-30 all-time in the SEC Tournament and holds a 7-12 (36.8) mark in quarterfinal games. UK’s semifinal appearances in 2006, 1992, and 1999 mark the highest SEC Tournament finishes for the Cats since winning the tournament in 1982.
Auburn owns a 25-12 lead in the all-time series with Kentucky, including a 5-1 advantage in the SEC Tournament. During the regular season, UK split meetings with the Tigers, winning 68-50 in Lexington and dr opping a 65-53 decision in Auburn.
The last time the teams met in the SEC Tournament was in 2005. UK fell 62-57. UK’s lone win over the Tigers in the SEC Tournament was in 1995 (75-51).
