Setting the Stage: UK vs. South Carolina

The Cats are 47-11 all-time against the Gamecocks…just 2-3 in Columbia in the last five tries.

We briefly mentioned last year’s 72-67 loss to USC yesterday on ABC 36 News, but it was that game that really did turn around the Cats season and approach to the tournament.

Things clicked.  Coach Cal "chilled" as James Young put it a year ago.  The tweak was put in place, and all was well in Solid Blue Nation.

What was it about the trip to Columbia that finally got things to click? How did UK and Cal figure it out?

South Carolina is 10-7 this season, 1-4 in SEC play.

And of course, that means the Cats will be in for all they could want and more when they take on the Gamecocks tomorrow.

Only one USC loss was by more than five points, that coming on the road at Ole Miss.

Frank Martin’s crew is no stranger to playing UK well at USC.

How can Kentucky counter attack what will be an intense atmosphere in just the first sellout since 2011, when, you guessed it, the Cats were in town for that one as well.

The "We’re every team’s Super Bowl" line is certainly overused by Coach Cal, but it does seem appropriate when the Cats hit the road.

It usually is t-shirt night and a sell-out when the Cats come to town.

Think back to 2010.  What a team Cal had.  Even that bunch couldn’t handle the sandstorm madness…much like last year’s group lost to a 10-18 (3-12 in conference play) USC squad.

Both year’s USC ended a 3-game losing streak by topping the Cats. 

But South Carolina has just two straight losses right now.

Hear from Cal on the losses in those two seasons, in the video.