Kentucky basketball has been searching for its identity all season.

We have seen the highs and we have seen the lows. And just when we think this team is finally starting to mesh, it feels like it all starts falling apart at the seams again.

If I had to describe this team in one simple phrase this year, it would be “The Inconsistents.”

For the first time in school history, Kentucky will be playing Wednesday in the SEC Tournament. The Cats dropped from a No. 4 seed to a No. 10 seed after Saturday’s loss. Vanderbilt beat Tennessee. Arkansas beat Missouri. They did their job.

All Kentucky had to do was beat Florida, and the Cats would have had the double bye.

And yes, three blatant calls were missed in the final minute. But let us be honest: Kentucky is the one that dug the hole in the first place.

I want to be proven wrong, but right now I think this team’s ceiling is the Sweet 16.

I also think they could lose in the first round.

That is who this team has been all year. You truly do not know what you are going to get.

Granted, Kentucky has battled injuries all season, and two players who likely would have given this team some of its best production outside of Otega Oweh are hurt. Kam Williams was playing his best basketball when he went down. I would have loved to have seen what this team could have done at full strength.

For the fans ready to dip on Mark Pope, I would like to remind you of Dan Hurley’s first few seasons at UConn. He went 16-17 in Year 1, 19-12 in Year 2, and 15-8 in the COVID year. In his fourth season, he went 23-10. By Year 5, he was 31-8 and a national champion. Then he went out and did it again the next year.

One thing about Mark Pope: he is a way better guy than Dan Hurley could ever think about being.

Kentucky fans should want success for Pope. He seems to genuinely care about his players, this program and the fans. I am not willing to give up on him yet.

But if it does not work out, I am still saying it now: I want to see Rick Pitino retire with the Cats.

Could Kentucky make a run in the SEC Tournament? Absolutely.

Could Kentucky also lose in the first round? Absolutely.

That is the frustration.

If Colin Chandler cannot give you more than two points in 35 minutes, then the Cats are in trouble. Oweh cannot do it all by himself.

Technically, Kentucky only has one confirmed player in next year’s class, and that is Brayden Hawthorne. It definitely raises some eyebrows that Pope has not landed any top commits yet.

But recruiting is not what it used to be. NIL changed everything. The transfer portal is here to stay.

I also think Kentucky will get a few players back from this season, including Chandler and Moreno.

Which brings me to one more point: Brandon Garrison should not be on the floor in the final minutes of a game over Moreno. That is one coaching decision I do have to question.

But let us move on.

It is the best time of the year.

It is March, baby.

I will be cheering on the blue and white no matter what.

And whoever is playing against Duke.

Go Cats.

Brittni McCoy is the sports editor at the Mountain Citizen.