Jerry Tipton on UK basketball

Senior guard Joe Crawford interprets the idea of Kentucky peaking as retribution for a season of hard work.

“I really don’t know hiow it starts to turn that way,” he said on Tuesday. “It’s a blessing. Things just have to be going right for us.  Someone is repaying us.”

Kentucky rolls into Atlanta, or Cat-lanta as its called here, for the Southeastern Conference Tournament. The Cats play either Ole Miss or Georgia

UK Coach Billy Gillispie expressed his affection for post-season tournaments in generally, and this one in particular.

“I’ve heard so much about our fan participation,” he said. “It doesn’t mean you’re going to advance. But it helps.”

When asked what he’d heard, Gillispie said, “Like a home away from home.”

Gillispie downplayed the notion of a long-range goal of winning the tournament or preparing for the NCAA Tournament.

“We’re going down to play the winner of Ole Miss-Georgia,” he said. “And we’re going to try to advance. If they’re keeping score, we’re going to try to win.”

To win the SEC Tournament, UK would have to win three games within a 42-hour period. Gillispie rejected the notion that a lack of depth might catch up to the Cats.

“That’s why we practice as hard as we do,” he said. “If your mind is tough, your legs are fine.”

The UK coach also saw his team peaking at the right time.

“You should be gaining steam every single game,” he asid. “We’re definitely a team that’s getting better.”