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Kentucky Basketball: 2021-22 keys for Wildcats to win at Alabama

By Holden Walter-Warner

AUBURN, AL - JANUARY 22: Sahvir Wheeler #2 of the Kentucky Wildcats is helped off the court after an injury during the second half against the Auburn Tigers at Auburn Arena on January 22, 2022 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
AUBURN, AL - JANUARY 22: Sahvir Wheeler #2 of the Kentucky Wildcats is helped off the court after an injury during the second half against the Auburn Tigers at Auburn Arena on January 22, 2022 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /
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Kentucky Basketball John Calipari Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports
Kentucky Basketball John Calipari Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports /

After Kentucky Basketball’s destruction of the Kansas Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse, John Calipari’s team had to be feeling on top of the world. It was easily one of the best victories for any program during the 2021-22 season.

In the days since Kentucky has come back to Earth a little bit. They were only able to beat an uninspiring Vanderbilt Commodores team by seven points. Perhaps the Wildcats were looking ahead to Saturday night’s primetime showdown against the Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa.

For Kentucky, the stakes for the ESPN game are significant, but not astronomical. The Wildcats are firmly in the mix for an SEC title and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Every win helps, every loss hurts more.

For Alabama, however, this game means a ton. The team is still firmly in the NCAA Tournament field, largely on the strength of wins over Gonzaga and Baylor. But the team has a losing record in SEC play, including an embarrassing loss to Georgia. Alabama needs to show it can get on the right side of the ledger in conference play.

The two SEC sides haven’t played yet this season. They’re set to replay this duel two weeks from Saturday in Lexington.

How will Kentucky ensure that they walk out of Tuscaloosa with a victory on Saturday evening? Here are three keys to a victory over the Crimson Tide.

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