There is no question that the Kentucky women’s team has underachieved this year, relative to expectations. And Ohio State is rebuilding after a long, moderately successful tenure by former coach Jim Foster. But both teams picked up nice conference tournament wins.
Kentucky opened in the quarterfinals by beating Florida, 75-70. DeNesha Stallworth had early foul trouble, but ended up scoring 13 points. The Gators had won both regular season meetings on the strength of a strong transition offense. But the Cats played well down the stretch to earn a semifinal meeting against top-seed South Carolina.
The Gamecocks had also swept the regular-season series over Kentucky, but the Cats prevailed this time 68-58. Stallworth and Linnae Harper each had 12 points for the Big Blue. South Carolina came into the game ranked fifth, and might have garnered a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament had they won the SEC playoff. But they will watch Sunday as the Cats play in their fourth SEC tournament championship in 5 years. Kentucky has not won this tourney since 1982. The opponent will be Tennessee who beat Texas A&M in the other semifinal.
I saw a regular season game between Penn State and Ohio State earlier in the year, and the Buckeyes were no match for the conference champion Lions. But in the Big Ten tournament, the Bucks turned the tables with a 99-82 quarterfinal rout. In the semifinals, Ohio State lost another close one to Iowa. The Bucks finished the season one game below .500.
The Blue Jackets were routed in Chicago Thursday night, but also beat Dallas and Nashville. They currently hold down the second and final wildcard playoff spot, but there is a lot of hockey yet to be played.
The Kentucky men managed to edge Alabama on Senior Night but then lost big yesterday in Gainesville, as expected. Florida became the first team to go 18-0 in SEC conference play. The Ohio State men host Michigan State this afternoon on Senior Day.
I have not had much time for ham radio lately, but the upper bands have been good. A lot of great DX is being worked on the 10-meter band.