SEC Mens Basketball Tournament 4.5 5 2 2
2010 SEC Tournament - College Hoops at its BEST!!! The 2010 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament in Nashville, TN was one of the best sporting experiences I have witnessed. I have been to many top sporting events including several Kentucky Derbies, a few trips to the Masters golf tournament, and a couple of Super Bowls.....and this event ranked right up there with any of those. As an avid Kentucky basketball fan, I was eager to see if our new coach and top rated recruiting class would pay off in the post season. The excitement in Nashville was unreal with every hotel sold out and ticket books selling for more than 6 times face value just to get in the arena. Everywhere you turned, was a sea of blue and white with the lingering chant of "C-A-T-S....Cats, Cats, Cats...." Every bar and restaurant from Broadway to 2nd Avenue was boiling over with excitement as Kentucky fans united during this unseasonable warm week in Nashville. Our group purchased unbelievable seats in the lower arena from TicketCity....and we were sitting right behind one of the biggest Kentucky Fans of all time......Ashley Judd!! The first day of the tournament brought some exciting match-ups with Alabama beating South Carolina, Tennessee defeating LSU, Florida outlasted Auburn, and Georgia upset Arkansas. A great day of basketball and Kentucky (who earned a bye) hadn't even taken the court!! Day 2 - After a long night enjoying the sights and sounds of Nashville, TN with friends....it was time for serious business. Bridgestone Arena holds almost 20,000 fans for basketball and it seemed like everyone was in Blue and White. Electricity was in the air as the top rated Wildcats took the floor. Kentucky held off a hard charging Alabama team to win by 6 in a much closer game than most fans expected. With a deep sigh of relief, we could sit back and enjoy the next three games. Tennessee advanced past Ole Miss to earn a rematch against Kentucky, whom they beat earlier in the season. Mississippi State and Vanderbilt also advanced to play each other in the semi-final round. The table was set for an unbelievable Saturday in Nashville. Kentucky fans once again fill the streets of Nashville as the neon lights illuminated the blue and white shirts of choice. Day 3 - Started off with more enthusiasm I have ever felt for a sporting event. Our Wildcats were set to take on the Tennessee Volunteers in a rematch many had hoped for. Tennessee had beaten Kentucky earlier in the season to hand them one of their two losses for the year. Tennessee was ranked #15 in the nation and Cats fans were expecting a heavy weight fight. From the opening tip, Kentucky absolutely blew Tennessee out of the gym. I have never heard such loud roars as our team put on a highlight reel in front of the Kentucky dominant crowd. Final score....UK - 74......TN - 45. Maybe one of the finest exhibitions of basketball I have witnessed at the college level. It was simply amazing.....an experience of a lifetime!! Mississippi State went on to defeat Vanderbilt and the UK faithful were primed for the final game on Sunday. Day 4 - After checking out of the hotel early, our group gathered at our normal pre-game watering hole. It was a bit quieter than usual because everyone had lost their voices from cheering wildly the day before!! Expectations were high with Kentucky heavily favorite over a hungry Mississippi State team who needed a win to advance to the NCAA Tournament. The game was neck and neck the entire time......and each time Kentucky tried to make a run, Mississippi State answered with runs of their own. The halftime score was much closer than anyone anticipated with UK down 4 points. It looked like we were in for a dogfight to win the championship. As the final minutes of the game drew closer.....it appeared Mississippi State might prevail. They had our backs against the wall with only a few seconds remaining. Kentucky was down 3 points with the ball.....inbound play and Mississippi State fouled. What a great coaching move! Kentucky only had one choice.....make the first free-throw, intentionally miss the second....hope to grab the rebound....then make a shot to force overtime. Our odds were one in a million! The first free throw went in! The second was missed on purpose.....we DID grab the rebound....but missed the 3 pointer for the win!! Just enough time was left on the clock for Cousins to tap the follow up shot in to barely beat the buzzer!! WE DID IT.....we tied the game and we were heading to overtime. I just witnessed my first buzzer beater shot and it was thrilling!! We went on to beat Mississippi State in overtime and celebrated all the way back home!! I would recommend that every college basketball fan try to attend their conference championship. I have been to the SEC Tournament several times and have enjoyed every one. TicketCity has been able to assist us with great tickets, and even point us in the right direction for hard to find hotel rooms and sports travel agents that can organize airfare or bus trips. The 2010 SEC Tournament was an experience I will never forget and I can't wait to attend this year in Atlanta!! September 9, 2010
SEC Championship Basketball Tournament We had a great time for games in session 1. We had great seats. We were close to the floor but high enough to seat every shot of the game. March 12, 2011