The 2022 Southeastern Conference (SEC) Men’s Basketball Championship was won by the Kentucky Wildcats. The Wildcats, who were the second seed in the tournament, defeated the top-seeded Florida Gators in the final, 74-69. This marked the Wildcats’ third consecutive SEC Championship, making them the first team since the Tennessee Volunteers in 2008 to win three consecutive titles.
Background
The SEC is one of the most competitive conferences in college basketball, and the 2022 tournament was no exception. The top-seeded Florida Gators had the best overall record in the conference, while the second-seeded Kentucky Wildcats had the best conference record. The third-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide, fourth-seeded Arkansas Razorbacks, and fifth-seeded Mississippi State Bulldogs also had strong teams.
The Tournament
The tournament began on March 5th and concluded with the championship game on March 14th. In the opening round, the Wildcats were matched up against the twelfth-seeded Ole Miss Rebels and cruised to an easy 70-50 victory. In the second round, the Wildcats faced the fifth-seeded Mississippi State Bulldogs and came away with a hard-fought 60-58 win.
In the quarterfinals, the Wildcats faced the fourth-seeded Arkansas Razorbacks and were able to come away with a 68-56 victory. In the semifinals, the Wildcats faced the third-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide and were able to pull off a thrilling 67-64 victory.
The Championship Game
The championship game was a rematch of the regular-season finale between the second-seeded Kentucky Wildcats and the top-seeded Florida Gators. The Wildcats had won the regular-season matchup, 79-77, and were looking to do the same in the championship game.
The game was a back-and-forth affair, but the Wildcats pulled away late and were able to secure the victory, 74-69. The Wildcats were led by senior guard Immanuel Quickley, who scored a game-high 22 points on 8-of-13 shooting. He was also named the tournament MVP for his performance.
Conclusion
The Kentucky Wildcats were able to come away with the 2022 SEC Men’s Basketball Championship, their third consecutive title. The Wildcats were led by tournament MVP Immanuel Quickley, who scored 22 points in the championship game. This marks the first time a team has won three consecutive SEC titles since the Tennessee Volunteers accomplished the feat in 2008.
The Wildcats will now look to carry this momentum into the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, where they are expected to be a top-five seed. Whether or not they can make a deep run in the tournament remains to be seen, but the Wildcats have certainly made their mark on the SEC.