Friday afternoon, we warned Kentucky. The Wildcats used a smothering defensive first half to put Georgia into an early hole, holding the Bulldogs to just 23 first-half points, the fewest UK had allowed all season. From there, Kentucky eased into a comfort zone, leading by double digits for over 18 minutes of the second half en route to a comfortable 62-49 win. Alabama, we argued, was different.

Kentucky agreed.

They held the Tide to 19 first-half points in order to take a double-figure lead to the locker room. The first half of the Wildcats’ semifinal game looked eerily like their quarterfinal win over Georgia.

But in the second half, Alabama answered with the kind of offensive firepower that fueled their quarterfinal comeback win over Auburn. The Tide didn’t quite match their 50-point second half from that game, but they did put up 44 points by shooting 43 percent in the second half, as opposed to 31 percent in their sluggish first half.

It didn’t matter — because Kentucky answered the offensive bell, as we had warned that they must. Their 86-63 semifinal victory put them in position to win the SEC Tournament for the fourth consecutive year.

It did more than that, though.

“We’re becoming that March team that I like my teams to be,” a pleased John Calipari told ESPN minutes after the game.

UK’s second half included 57 points, featuring sizzling 84 percent field goal shooting and an 8-for-9 showing from 3-point range. Kentucky led by double digits for all but 14 seconds of the second half. And after a quarterfinal win in which freshmen Kevin Knox and P.J. Washington largely carried the load, it was the Wildcat greybeards who held things together down the stretch Saturday.

After Knox, co-Freshman of the Year, spent much of the game on the bench with foul trouble, sophomore forward Wenyen Gabriel did his best Larry Bird imitation, knocking down a career-high seven 3-pointers (on seven attempts, no less) on his way to a game-high 23 points. He was particularly lethal when Alabama starting hitting shots, as the slender Wildcat had 17 of his points after intermission.

“We’re becoming that March team that I like my teams to be.”
Kentucky coach John Calipari

Meanwhile, sophomore forward Sacha Killeya-Jones, who had looked lost for much of the season with just 11 points and 12 rebounds since January, took advantage of the injury loss of forward Jarred Vanderbilt to post six points and five rebounds in a very workmanlike effort.

Kentucky’s fabulous freshmen chipped in as well, led by Shai Gilegous-Alexander’s rock-steady 19 points and 8 assists. Washington (14 points) and Knox (11) each reached double-figure scoring as well.

If Kentucky can repeat their first half defensive intensity or their second-half offensive execution, the Wildcats will give John Calipari a chance for another one of his March re-appearing acts, a la 2011 or 2014, when underwhelming regular seasons were followed by very solid SEC Tournament performances and NCAA Tournament runs to the Final Four.

As a result of Kentucky’s second solid victory, the Wildcats find themselves in position to repeat one incredible coincidence. Last season’s UK SEC Tournament title consisted of wins over Alabama, Georgia, and Arkansas. If the Razorbacks take down Tennessee in Saturday’s second game, yet again, Kentucky has the chance to repeat the past.

Alabama was valiant in defeat, especially freshman star Collin Sexton, who scored 21 points on 6-for-14 shooting, giving him a three game SEC Tournament total of 79 points. In the past three days, the  talented freshman made clear that coaches and AP members’ opinions aside, he was the true SEC Player of the Year. The Tide were rewarded for three solid days of work with an almost certain NCAA Tournament spot, their first since 2012.

For Kentucky, another SEC Tournament appearance has led to another SEC Tournament Championship Game appearance Sunday afternoon. With three halves of great defense and one of spectacular offense, the Wildcats are in position to be right back where they find themselves most seasons — in the thick of the hunt for a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.