NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Dai-Jon Parker scored 12 points, and Vanderbilt beat Kentucky 64-48 last night in the Southeastern Conference tournament to put a serious dent in the Wildcats’ hopes of having a chance to defend their national title.
Kentucky (21-11) came in as a bubble team projected possibly as a play-in candidate. But the Wildcats, who lost six players to the NBA last summer after winning the NCAA title, couldn’t match the intensity of the Commodores.
Archie Goodwin led Kentucky with 12 points, and Kyle Wiltjer had 10. Ryan Harrow was 2 of 15 for four points as Kentucky was held to a season-low in points.
Vanderbilt (16-16) shot 50 percent overall, hitting 8 of 17 3-pointers. They will face 24-8 Ole Miss, 64-62 victors over Missouri
In other SEC quarterfinals, top seed Florida beat LSU 80-58 behind Erik Murphy’s career-high 27 points and career-best 12 rebounds. The Gators (25-6) will face No. 4 seed Alabama, which won a bubble battle with No. 5 seed Tennessee, 58-48.