It’s rare when a Tuesday night matchup between Kentucky and Vanderbilt at Rupp Arena isn’t the biggest game on the Southeastern Conference docket.
Yet such is the case tonight when the Wildcats and Commodores play second fiddle to the Alabama-Florida showdown in Gainesville. The Crimson Tide and Gators are each 11-3 in SEC play with two games left in the regular season, so tonight’s winner can claim no worse than a share of the league title.
Florida has not won the SEC since 2007, and it’s been since 2002 for Alabama.
“Those are two good teams that are really playing well,” Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl said Monday. “I would give an edge to Alabama if Florida didn’t have something to play for, because Alabama obviously needs that game to help their RPI and help their NCAA tournament picture. Florida has survived at home, but they’ve been close victories. They’re not unbeatable in Gainesville.
“I think it’s going to be a great, great, great game and great for the SEC.”