In case you didn’t know, UK still has an outside chance at being the outright SEC Champions.  Of course, we’d have to win out, beating UT in Knoxville.  Besides that, the Vols would have to lose once more, something they may not do again this season.  However, there is hope.  So why would we want UT to win tonight?

Reality.  We’re not going to win out.  Unfortunately, Vanderbilt is white-hot and only one game behind us in the standings.  While there is validity to the argument that we could still win the championship outright, it’s much more likely that we will get second in the East, but still drawing a first-round bye in the tournament.  Surprisingly, that two seed provides us with a much simpler road to the SEC championship game.

If the season were to end right now, our first tourney game would be the winner of UGA and Auburn.  If we win that, we would play the survivor of MSU, Florida, and Alabama in the semifinals.  However, if we were to take the one seed, we’d begin with the Ole Miss/USC winner, followed by either Arkansas, Vandy, or LSU.  Clearly a much tougher road, especially with the way both Arkansas and Vandy are playing right now.

I realize that a lot of basketball remains and a lot can happen between now and the end of the season, but the best (and most likely) scenario would begin with a UT win tonight.  Sure, winning the SEC would all but lock up and NCAA bid; however, we can make some serious noise in the tournament as a two seed.