Kentucky Sticks to Routine, Avoids Bridgestone Practice

0:00On March 10th, seven of the eight teams headed to the SEC Tournament practiced at Bridgestone Arena today. Kentucky is the holdout, opting instead for a session back home in Lexington. The Wildcats game tips off tomorrow at 11.30am Central Time. But their arena slot today ran from 125 to 205pm Coach. Mark Pope wants to mirror the exact game-day rhythm, including film study and warm-ups at the right times. Pope stressed that sticking to their normal routine, trumps getting extra court time at the venue. After practice, the team will head to Nashville just like a typical travel day. Kentucky's last trip to Bridgestone was rough, a 95 to 59 lost to Gonzaga where they shot poorly. Still, Pope says past games there won't make much difference against LSU or anyone else. This approach keeps their clock synced for the early start, focusing on preparation over familiarity as the tournament heats up.