If Kentucky hopes to solidify its case to make the NCAA Tournament, it likely can’t afford a loss against Georgia on Saturday in Southeastern Conference play in Athens, Ga.

The Wildcats (16-8, 7-4 SEC) have been inconsistent all season, going 1-4 against ranked teams and 3-3 in road games.

But if there’s one team that Kentucky has consistently defeated, it’s Georgia (14-10, 4-7).

The Wildcats have bested the Bulldogs in 16 of the teams’ past 17 meetings, including an 85-71 win on Jan. 17 in Lexington, Ky.

Georgia enters the rematch reeling, having dropped six of its past seven games following a 78-74 loss to visiting Ole Miss on Tuesday.

Kentucky is coming off an 88-73 loss to visiting Arkansas on Tuesday in which the Wildcats were outscored 47-33 in the second half. The Razorbacks opened the final 20 minutes on a 17-10 run in which 12 of their points were scored on layups or dunks.

“I was just so disappointed,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said of the second-half effort. “Turnover, turnover, dunk, layup. I’m looking around, I’ve got to call a timeout a minute into the half, and literally like, come on, how did you lose that, how did you not get that ball?

“But you know, that’s why I said, okay, here we are, let’s fight our way back. We did some good things and got it close, seven and six and five, but the game was a physical game.”

Cason Wallace, who averages 12.3 points per game, scored a game-high 24, while Chris Livingston added 13 against the Razorbacks. Jacob Toppin and Antonio Reeves chipped in 11 points apiece, but Oscar Tshiebwe was held to just seven points, well below his team-leading 15.5 points per game.

It represents a two-game slump for Tshiebwe, who has just 11 points during the span.

Meanwhile, Georgia led by six with 13:39 left before gradually falling apart down the stretch against Ole Miss.

“Our physicality on the interior, our finishing of stops, our defensive rebounding, again, at the foul line,” Bulldogs coach Mike White said. “All of those are factors. Our shot-blocking and altering, our protection of the rim, those are all weaknesses for us.”

Georgia clearly struggled at times without leading scorer Terry Roberts (15.0 points per game), who missed his second straight game due to a concussion and will be a game-time decision against the Wildcats, according to White.

The Bulldogs were led by Braelen Bridges, who scored a career-high 26 points on 10-for-13 shooting to go along with a game-high 11 rebounds, well above his season averages of 7.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.

Kario Oquendo, who averages 12.7 points per game, added 19 points and five rebounds, while Justin Hill added 13 points and a game-high seven assists against the Rebels.

–Field Level Media

Who is the best point guard in the Big Ten? Evidence will be provided Saturday when Jahmir Young and Maryland host Jalen Pickett and Penn State in College Park, Md.

While Young averages 16.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game, Pickett fills the stat sheet to the tune of 17.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.0 assists.

Give the statistical edge to Pickett. Young, however, has had no less of an impact for Maryland (16-8, 7-6 Big Ten), leading the Terps in scoring in each of their six conference home victories — including three over ranked teams.

Similarly, when Penn State (14-10, 5-8) has won in the league, Pickett has shown the way. In the Nittany Lions’ most recent victory on Jan. 29 against Michigan, he put up 25 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.

Young and Pickett have comparable stories with both playing three seasons for mid-major programs, Young at Charlotte and Pickett at Siena.

Maryland and Penn State are coming off defeats. The Terps fell into a familiar trap on the road on Tuesday as they allowed Michigan State to score the game’s first 15 points in a 63-58 defeat.

The Terps caught the Spartans in the second half and led 48-44 with nine minutes left. But Michigan State answered with an 8-0 run.

Young led Maryland with 17 points and six assists. But the Terps were done in by crooked shooting from distance as they made just 3 of 22 (13.6 percent).

“We came out so lackadaisical,” Maryland coach Kevin Willard said. “Part of the start was, we didn’t practice very good.”

On Wednesday, Penn State suffered just its second home loss, falling in overtime to Wisconsin, 79-74. It was the 18th time in the last 19 meetings that the Badgers have beaten the Nittany Lions.

It also was the third straight defeat for Penn State, its longest losing streak of the season.

Thanks largely to Pickett, the Nittany Lions have the best assist-to-turnover ratio in the Big Ten. But their 11 miscues were costly against Wisconsin.

“If we have live-ball turnovers Saturday, we’re gonna get our doors blown off,” Penn State coach Micah Shrewsberry said.

–Field Level Media

Iowa State squandered a three-point lead in Wednesday’s loss at West Virginia, meager in comparison to the 16- and 23-point road cushions the Cyclones have lost over the past few weeks.

Each of those leads transformed into a single-digit defeat for the Cyclones (16-7, 7-4 Big 12), who will aim to atone for the first loss in that string when they host Oklahoma State on Saturday night in Ames, Iowa.

Iowa State is 12-0 at Hilton Coliseum this season, most recently a 15-point home rout of then-No. 8 Kansas on Feb. 4.

Things turned sour when the Cyclones traveled to West Virginia four nights later, though. Sore, too. Iowa State was whistled for 30 personal fouls in the game, putting the Mountaineers in the bonus before the first media timeout of the second half.

While the Cyclones navigated foul trouble and produced a trio of double-figure scorers — including Tamin Lipsey, who had 16 points before fouling out — the obstacle ultimately proved too great.

“We need to be mentally tough to be able to withstand that,” ISU coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “We need to do a great job of staying in the moment, focusing on the play that’s next. We’re not in control of those stoppages and we need to make sure we’re doing what we can to be mentally prepared for whatever’s coming at us on that next play.”

Life has been pretty good for the Cowboys (15-9, 6-5) since they rallied past Iowa State for a 61-59 win on Jan. 21. That victory is part of a stretch of six wins in seven games as Oklahoma State has climbed the league standings and improved its NCAA tournament outlook in a rugged Big 12 that aims to send numerous schools.

On Wednesday, Oklahoma State stretched its winning streak to four with a 71-68 victory against Texas Tech.

John-Michael Wright’s three-point play with 0.8 seconds to go was the difference as the Cowboys nearly coughed up a 15-point advantage.

“Just gotta find a way, man,” said Bryce Thompson, who scored 21 points. “It was a rough game but we just found a way. I think that’s where grit and toughness comes in and making those plays down the stretch that you need to.”

Oklahoma State’s shaky 3-point and free-throw shooting allowed Texas Tech to stay in the game. The Cowboys were 14-for-24 from the line (9-for-18 after halftime) while connecting on just 21.7 percent of their attempts from deep.

“We guarded for the most part and we rebounded, and that’s been a staple of who we are,” Oklahoma State coach Mike Boynton said. “And the reason that you try to put the emphasis on the defense is because sometimes you’re going to have those shooting nights. It’s the nature of the game.”

Avery Anderson III, who had surgery this week on his injured wrist, scored a game-high 18 points for Oklahoma State in the first meeting with Iowa State. Osun Osunniyi (15 points) and Gabe Kalscheur (14) led the Cyclones.

–Field Level Media

After losing two of its last three games, No. 6 Tennessee will try to reestablish its offensive efficiency when it hosts Missouri in Southeastern Conference action Saturday in Knoxville, Tenn.

The Volunteers (19-5, 8-3 SEC) have lost at Florida 67-54, edged Auburn 46-43 at home and lost at Vanderbilt 66-65 in their last three games.

Tennessee had a chance to pull away from the Commodores on Wednesday, but the Volunteers went 4:27 without scoring a basket. They lost when Tyrin Lawrence knocked down a 3-pointer at the buzzer for Vanderbilt.

“We had some unforced, I think, silly turnovers that we can’t have with guys that have played a lot of minutes for us,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said. “That, when we get a chance to get some separation, we just can’t have some of the turnovers that we had. Again, this time of year, you expect to be in possession games like this.”

Tyreke Key was the offensive bright spot for Tennessee in that game. He scored 14 points off the bench in his best performance in SEC play.

Key made 6 of 12 shots from the field and 2 of 4 from 3-point range while making just one turnover. He got extra playing time when guard Zakai Zeigler got in early foul trouble.

“I thought he got aggressive and started doing some of the things that you guys know we need him to do,” Barnes said. “He did it. We need that from him.”

Santiago Vescovi leads Tennessee in scoring (12.0) and Josiah Jordan-James leads the team in rebounding (5.3). Jordan-James missed time in the Vanderbilt game with a sprained ankle.

The Volunteers are 11-1 at home in Thompson-Boling Arena this season. Missouri (18-6, 6-5) is 2-4 in true road games.

The Tigers are coming off am 83-74 victory over South Carolina at home Tuesday. Kobe Brown led the way with 19 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three steals.

Missouri coach Dennis Gates urged Brown, the Tigers’ leading scorer (16.3) and rebounder (6.1), to take charge of the game during the second half.

“I was not pleased with Kobe’s start,” Gates said. “And I challenged him, looked him in the eye several times and challenged him because I thought he was passing the ball too much and passed up on some open shots that he had normally taken, even in the last five, six games. At that point I saw him click back and accept that challenge in the right way. Didn’t pout about it, didn’t pout after his head coach got after him. He was able to focus on my words and deliver what I asked him to deliver.”

With guard Tre Gomillion (groin) and forward Ronnie DeGray III (knee) injured and guard Isiaih Mosley sitting out for undisclosed reasons, Gates reduced his playing rotation to eight players against South Carolina. The rotation could expand at Tennessee.

“Tre Gomillion wants to play,” Gates said. “I’m making the decision. Ronnie DeGray … these guys want to be out there, so I have to make the decision. Isiaih wants to be out there, but I have to make the decision as the head coach.”

–Field Level Media

No. 25 San Diego State looks forward to being back at full strength when it hosts UNLV on Saturday in a Mountain West Conference game.

The Aztecs (19-5, 10-2 MWC) watched one of their best players head to the locker room after a controversial ejection in the first half of a 63-61 win at Utah State on Wednesday.

The game had just stopped for a timeout when several players began pushing and shoving in front of the San Diego State bench.

Darrion Trammell, the starting point guard for the Aztecs who’s second on the team in scoring (10.5 points per game) and leads in assists (3.6), came off the bench to greet his teammates at the timeout. He was in the middle of the scrum and was ejected for leaving the bench.

Two walk-on players and an assistant coach for Utah State also were ejected.

“The officials told me there was an altercation, Darrion came off the bench and he pushed somebody, and he was ejected,” SDSU coach Brian Dutcher said. “I just told the team: ‘This is done. We can’t do a thing about it. … We have to put it behind us immediately and continue to play.'”

The Aztecs needed their other weapons to step up and Matt Bradley, Jaedon LeDee and Micah Parrish came through against Utah State.

The victory not only helped the Aztecs take a one-game game lead in the conference standings, but showed San Diego State has the depth to pick up the slack when down a key player.

Bradley scored 18 points, his best effort since putting up 23 against UNLV in a 76-67 win on Dec. 31.

LeDee had 14 points and 10 rebounds off the bench for his first double-double with San Diego State. Parrish pitched in 12 points off the bench.

Dutcher had plenty of good things to say about Bradley, a returning first-team All-MWC selection who was ripe for a better effort after scoring just three points in a 72-52 win against Boise State on Feb. 3.

“I like the way Matt turns up his game when it’s most needed and it was most needed tonight,” Dutcher said. “He turned it up on the biggest stage for us.”

Bradley’s jumper with 5:44 left gave the Aztecs a 62-52 lead, a big basket considering that would be the final field goal of the game for San Diego State.

“Matt Bradley was able to make big, important baskets when nothing else was working,” Dutcher said. “He looked like the player of the year in the conference tonight. He was really good.”

UNLV (16-8, 5-7) has won four of five following a 69-59 win at Wyoming on Wednesday.

Elijah Harkless has been red-hot for the Rebels. He matched his season high with 33 points against the Cowboys and is averaging 24.6 points in the past five games.

Harkless scored 18 points against the Aztecs earlier this season, but they limited him to 6-for-19 shooting from the field, including 2 of 10 from 3-point distance.

SDSU made 11 3-pointers in the first meeting and UNLV coach Kevin Kruger said his squad needs more repetitions to get better on defense.

“At this point the reps are a little more concentrated,” Kruger said. “Not necessarily just go-go-go, learn-learn-learn, learning on the fly, as much as really focused in and locked in on what’s been hurting us.”

–Field Level Media

No. 3 Alabama is undefeated in the Southeastern Conference but faces a stern test when it visits rival Auburn for a Saturday afternoon showdown.

The Crimson Tide (21-3, 11-0 SEC) have won 12 of their last 13 games, including a dominating 97-69 home victory over Florida on Wednesday. The only setback for coach Nate Oats’ team over that span was a shocking 93-69 loss at Oklahoma.

Leading the charge is freshman sensation Brandon Miller, who leads the team in minutes (32.9), scoring (19.0) and rebounding (8.3). He tallied 24 points, nine rebounds and three assists against the Gators to spark Alabama to its best SEC start since the 1955-56 team went 14-0 in league play.

The Crimson Tide also matched the 1975-76 team — coached by the great C.M. Newton — for the best 24-game start in school history.

“It’s great. They’ve had a lot of really good teams here,” Oats said. “I don’t even know who was in the SEC back in ’55-’56, but it’s a good league now. We’re just trying to play good basketball. I thought we played pretty well tonight. It’s nice to make some history around here.”

Mark Sears (13.9) and Noah Clowney (10.1) are Alabama’s other double-digit scorers. But the Crimson Tide has a deep playing rotation, and guys like Jaden Bradley, Nimari Burnett, Rylan Griffen and Jahvon Quinerly are all solid scorers who double as quality defenders.

Charles Bediako is Alabama’s anchor in the post and recorded four blocks against the Gators. He’ll be tested, however, squaring off against Auburn big man Johni Broome, who is one of the SEC’s best low-post performers.

Broome recorded his eighth double-double of the season with 18 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out in an 83-78 road loss to Texas A&M Tuesday night. It was the sixth straight game he has scored in double figures.

Wendell Green Jr. led Auburn (17-7, 7-4) with 20 points and six assists in the loss to the Aggies. He’s the Tigers leading scorer at 13.9 points per game, while his 4.4 assists per game rank third in the league.

If Auburn is to pull the upset, the Tigers need strong efforts from Green as well as Jaylin Williams and Allen Flanigan, who are capable scorers when they are shooting well.

The Tigers will also need to get good production from K.D Johnson and Dylan Cardwell off the bench. Auburn has lost four of its last five games, but two consecutive road losses to Tennessee and Texas A&M doesn’t have coach Bruce Pearl hitting the panic button.

“(This game) tells you these kids are buying into the scouts,” Pearl said after the loss to the Aggies. “It tells you they’re preparing. It tells you they’re grinding. We were ready to play. We started both halves well. (Coaches) Wes Flanigan and Chad Prewett did a great job with the scout. We played a lot of good basketball out here. We’ve just got to build on it.”

–Field Level Media