SEC Semifinal Recaps
by Ryan Glenn
No. 2E Florida 68, No. 1W Alabama 62
ATLANTA – Florida came out shooting outstanding from behind the arc. The Gators made four of their first five threes and jumped out to a 16-8 lead. After that moment, the defensive play from both teams increased. Each team was not causing turnovers, but instead, they were making it very difficult for anybody to get a clean shot off. Alabama shot 31% from the field and did not make a single three-point shot in the half. Florida, fueled by their six three pointers, had a 27-20 lead at the half.
Alabama seemed to come out a different team. A quick run by the Tide, including a three and lay-up from Kennedy Winston, tied up the game. With 13:08 left in the game, Winston put down two free throws, to give Alabama their only lead in the half. Florida quickly answered with David Lee, who had a great inside presence in the game, was able to lead Florida to a seven-point lead with less than five minutes to go. Alabama tried to hang around, but when Matt Walsh put down six free throws with under sixteen seconds to go in the game, it was over.
Lee finished with a game-high 20 points and seven rebounds for the Gators. Walsh was second on Florida with 17. Kennedy Winston led the Crimson Tide with 19, but was just 1-8 when shooting three-pointers.
“They were going one-on-one in the post and I was trying to make strong moves, draw fouls, and make shots,” Lee said, when asked about his offensive performance today.”
No. 1E Kentucky 79, No. 2 LSU 78 (OT)
In one of the most exciting games of the tournament, Kentucky edged out the very hot LSU team in overtime. The game started out with both teams making shots. For the Wildcats, it was everybody hitting. For LSU, it was just Antonio Hudson. Hudson had 15 of the Tigers’ first 21 points. Kentucky was able to hold the lead for most of the half, but following four free-throws, LSU led at halftime 32-31.
Kentucky quickly came out and took the lead in the second half. Their lead was no more than six the entire half until Patrick Sparks put down a three to put the Wildcats up eight with 6:12 left. The Tigers came roaring back. Brandon Bass hit two free-throws and made two baskets and Glen Davis had a tip-in to put them within two. Following a couple of free-throws from Kelenna Azubuike and a big dunk from Ravi Moss, Kentucky was back up seven with 1:32 left.
With Kentucky missing a couple front-ends on one-and-ones, the Tigers still had a chance. That chance became reality when Darrell Mitchell hit two straight treys to bring LSU within one. Randolph Morris was fouled with seven seconds left and had a chance to put Kentucky up three. Morris made the first and missed the second, putting the Wildcats up two. Bass grabbed the rebound and got up a shot that went in as the clock expired. Bass took his jersey off in excitement, as he thought his team was only down one. In reality, the Tigers were down two and his shot sent the game into overtime.
LSU came out and quickly got up on the Wildcats by four. Kentucky was not getting back on defense, as the Tigers had two easy, open lay-ups to help their cause. Kentucky was down by five with 1:38 left, but that is when Patrick Sparks nailed a three to make it a one-possession game. Following two missed free throws from Davis, Azubuike was fouled and made one of the two shots to bring Kentucky within one. On Azubuike’s missed free-throw, Chuck Hayes grabbed the rebound and called a quick timeout. The Wildcats set up the same play they did when they lost to Florida, but this time it worked. Hayes put in a lay-up with 12 seconds left and LSU missed their last attempt, to give Kentucky the win.
Azubuike once again led the way for Kentucky with 19 points and five rebounds. Sparks also had a great night for the Wildcats with 17 points, including five threes. Hudson was the star for LSU, as his great first half shooting led him to finish with 21 points for the Tigers.
“I was so proud of our bench,” Coach Tubby Smith said after the game. “Those guys work just as hard, and I have the same standards for them as I do for the starters. They got their chance to perform today. They know I believe in them. I thought we were flat at the beginning of the second half, and I put in the bench to make a statement to the starters. Joe (Crawford) had some clutch baskets, and our bench outscored them (LSU) 23-7. It doesn’t matter who is in the game because I can plug guys into almost any position.”
SEC Tournament Championship – Sunday at 1:00 P.M. Est.
No. 1E Kentucky vs. No. 2E Florida
