2010 SEC Basketball Championship Preview

The Kentucky Wildcats (31-2, 14-2) have advanced to their first SEC Conference Tournament final since 2004 and will face the Mississippi State Bulldogs (23-10, 9-7) at 1:00 PM EST in the 2010 SEC Tournament championship game. Mississippi State's coach Rick Stansbury has the Bulldogs in their second consecutive championship game. The Kentucky Wildcats won the previous matchup between the two teams, 81-75 in overtime at Starkville.

Kentucky Wildcats 2010 SEC Championship Preview

Kentucky had an off game in their first matchup in the 2010 SEC Tourney against the Alabama Crimson Tide, but were led by guard John Wall in a come-from-behind 73-67 victory over the Tide. Patrick Patterson also chipped in with 20 points while DeMarcus Cousins was held to under 10 points for the third game in a row.

Against the Tennessee Volunteers, DeMarcus Cousins was a beast scoring 19 points and grabbing 15 rebounds in a 74-45 thumping of the Volunteers. John Wall had 14 points and 9 assists, and Eric Bledsoe had 17 points on 5 of 8 3 point shooting. The loss was the worst-ever in Tennessee Coach Bruce Pearl's time in Knoxville. Kentucky held Tennessee to a season low 19 points in the opening half.

Mississippi State Bulldogs 2010 SEC Championship Preview

Mississippi State entered the 2010 SEC Tournament needing to make it at least to the championship game to get off of the NCAA Tournament bubble despite finishing the season in first place in the SEC West subdivision.

Mississippi State beat the Florida Gators in the quarter final round of the SEC Tourney, 75-69. The Bulldogs were led by Barry Stewart who scored 17 points and helped State hold off the Gators hitting 5 free throws at the end of the game.

Against Vanderbilt, the Bulldogs were led by Barry Stewart who scored 14 points, and had Phil Turner, Dee Bost, and Jarvis Varnado all score 11 points in a 62-52 upset of the 23^rd ranked Vandy Commodores.

SEC Championship Preview

Previously against Mississippi State, Kentucky was led by John Wall who scored 18 points and almost had a triple double in leading the Wildcats back from 7 points down. Mississippi State was playing without leading scorer, Ravern Johnson and Jarvis Varnado was plagued with foul trouble the majority of the 2^nd half. On the bad-side for the Bulldogs, is the Cats shot an abysmal 4 of 24 from 3. If they stay as hot as they did against Tennessee, it will be a challenge for the Bulldogs to keep the game close. With Patterson and Cousins to worry about inside, the difference in the game could be a battle of the 3 point game and the Bulldogs keeping the Wildcats transition game in check. The Bulldogs do need a win to eliminate any doubt on making the NCAA tournament.

Prediction: Mississippi State keeps the game close in the first half but loses by more than 10 points.