Kentucky's Andrew Harrison (5) takes a shot over Texas A&M's Jordan Green (10) during the second half of the top-ranked Wildcats' double-overtime win Saturday at College Station, Texas.Getting up for Kentucky is not a problem this season in the Southeastern Conference.
It's getting up from the floor after playing the Wildcats that is becoming an issue around the league.
Alabama had a packed Coleman Coliseum this past Saturday as college basketball's top-ranked team traveled to Tuscaloosa. The frenzy was short-lived, however, as Kentucky raced to a 35-17 halftime lead and won 70-48.
The Crimson Tide's first game after Kentucky will be tonight at Arkansas.
"You have to be able to face what happened in the game, look at it, and determine how you can be better from this," Alabama coach Anthony Grant said. "That's what we're trying to do -- get better -- and hopefully we've got enough mental toughness and leadership on our team to where we'll be able to learn from that and shake off that loss."
Vanderbilt is now facing that same challenge. The Commodores went to Rupp Arena on Tuesday night and gave the Wildcats a scare before falling 65-57, and now they have some time to regroup before hosting LSU on Saturday.
"Their defense is perhaps as good as I've ever seen," Vandy coach Kevin Stallings said, "but I think if you allow your mojo to be defined by what happens in one game, particularly in a game against Kentucky, I think you're missing the boat a little bit. They are different from every other team you play, and I'm hopeful that's something I don't have to worry about."
Life after facing Kentucky hasn't been detrimental so far around the league, though scheduling has helped. Ole Miss lost its conference opener in overtime at Kentucky but came home to defeat South Carolina, and Texas A&M followed its double-overtime loss to the visiting Wildcats by staying home and topping Mississippi State.
Missouri wasn't as fortunate, losing last Tuesday night at Kentucky and then falling this past Saturday at home to Tennessee.
"Kentucky is an awfully good team, but I think we can play better," Grant said. "We just need to look at where we can help ourselves as we move forward, because there are a lot of awfully good teams in this league."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.