Regular season finale is big for both UK and LSU

The season finale is here as Kentucky (22-8) looks to avenge a loss from earlier in the season against LSU on Saturday.

The Wildcats are tied for first place in the conference with Texas A&M—which plays Vanderbilt on Saturday—but UK can only win the conference with a win over LSU and a loss by the Aggies.

When: 2 p.m., Saturday, March 4.

Where: Rupp Arena; Lexington, Ky.

TV: CBS

The long road for lone UK senior Alex Poythress draws to a near as he’ll play his final game in Rupp Arena on Saturday. A leg injury in December of his junior season likely kept Poythress from entering the NBA Draft, but he said the journey in Lexington has been worth it.

“It’s been long, but it’s been great,” Poythress said. “Some of the best memories of my life. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

In addition to being a key contributor each year on the floor, Poythress also graduated in three years and became the first Academic All American for UK since 1995. The senior said his academic success likely means more to his parents than it does to him.

“I think it’s meant more to my parents, how hard they pushed me growing up to make sure I’m staying on top of school, staying on top of my studies,” Poythress said. “It’s probably more of a proud moment for them and speaks volumes of them and how great of parents they are.”

John Calipari said the things Poythress does in the classroom and the challenges he’s overcome off the court have made him an easy player to cheer for.

“He’s such a great kid,” Calipari said. “The injuries and the things that he’s had to overcome, you just root for a kid like that. We’ve had three kids graduate in three years, Alex being one of them. He was Academic All-American this year so there’s a lot of good stuff that’s happened for him, but again the injuries and the stuff held him back a little bit.”

Although his home career is coming to an end, the end goal of a national championship is still Poythress’ main goal. He played in the national championship game his sophomore season but was unable to play in the National Semifinal against Wisconsin a year ago because of a torn ACL. Poythress said it’s crucial to write a good ending to his UK career.

“It’s real important,” Poythress said. “Our ultimate goal is still to win a national championship, and that’s what we’re chasing here. We’re chasing titles. We’re still working on our goal toward the end of the year to come out on top.”

As has been the case for the past three UK opponents, LSU is sitting on the bubble and still searching for marquee wins late in the season. The Tigers have underachieved this season with a talented roster led by Ben Simmons, but a win over the Wildcats in Rupp Arena would go a long way in helping their cause for an NCAA Tournament bid.

“We’re going to play a desperate team, but I’m not worried about it because every team we play is desperate,” Calipari said. “Every single team, every night at home, on the road, is desperate. And they’re going to be desperate. It’s good for us. That’s what prepares us for March and that’s why our teams historically have played well in March.”

The Tigers have won two in a row coming into the matchup with UK.

Calipari said junior forward Derek Willis practiced on Thursday and was shooting the 3-point shot well. The sight of that caused Calipari to put his hands together and look to the sky, as if to say ‘thank you’ for the news.

UK has struggled to shoot the ball from deep without Willis, and Calipari said Willis changed the complexion of the team.

“He made us a different team, but there were times if he didn’t play rough then we really hurt in the post-up,” Calipari said. “But he was never here, unless it was early season, with Alex. We don’t even know what this team looks like if I put him in with Alex. What does that team look like? We don’t know. We have no idea.”

Willis’ emergence came just a few games before Poythress’ knee injury, so the tandem haven’t spent much time on the floor together. UK will have a chance to be fully healthy going into the season’s final game.