Kentucky opens the postseason this week at the SEC Tournament in Nashville, playing in the event?s first round for the first time since the renewal in 1979. The Wildcats finished third in the SEC East, failing to capture a first-round bye for the first time since the league split into divisions in 1992.

The Wildcats, 9-7 in SEC, face Ole Miss in the tournament?s second game Thursday. Kentucky doubled up the Rebels, 80-40, two weeks ago in Lexington, a game that Ole Miss? leading scorer, Dwayne Curtis, missed to attend his brother?s funeral. The Rebels have lost five in a row, while UK closed out the year winning four of its last six conference games.

Kentucky is 107-18 all-time in SEC Tournament action, 50-13 since the tourney was renewed in 1979 and 34-4 since the league expanded in 1992. This is the 47th SEC Tournament, and UK has won more than half (25) the titles despite playing in just 44 previous events. Kentucky has posted a winning record in SEC play for 17-straight years, the best streak in the league. Florida?s eight-consecutive winning seasons rank second.