Garrison's Hot Hand Lifts Kentucky in SEC Tournament

0:00On March 11, Kentucky's men's basketball team kicked off the SEC tournament with an 87-82 win over LSU right here in Nashville, keeping their postseason hopes alive. Brandon Garrison emerged as the unexpected star, stepping up when the team needed him most after early foul trouble for another big man. He poured in 17 points on seven of nine shooting from the field, and two of three from beyond the arc, including a pair of huge three-pointers. Midway through the second half, that sparked a game-changing run. Coach Mark Pope raved about Garrison's energy and physicality, calling him a huge boost, while teammates praised his readiness and confidence. The crowd even shifted from doubting his long shots to cheering them on by the second make. Garrison battled through a rolled ankle from the regular season finale, listed as probable, but determined to push forward. Beyond scoring in two key blocks, he directed the offense like a floor general, showing leadership that impressed everyone. Kentucky now advances to face eighth-seeded Missouri in a revenge matchup on Thursday at 12.30pm, eastern time on the SEC network, where Garrison's hot hand could make all the difference.