4-2 is a realistic stretch goal, especially if we play well in the losses.
In all likelihood, that would mean taking care of business at home, and beating either Kentucky or aTm on the road.
It demands a consistency that we honestly haven't shown yet, but maybe (maybe!) are turning the corner on.
This Saturday, we need to play well. A win would be great. But it's at least as important that, if we lose, we play well in defeat.
The UK team will gather itself, and the crowd will be raucous....so long as things go well. But I think it will be a brittle bravado....they have four consecutive losses, and are a major lucky break (against a mediocre Vandy team) away from a five-game game skid. They're shaken and doubting themselves. To mix similes, like the cornered wounded blue-blood program they are, they'll come out with their hair on fire.
We'll need to withstand the initial onslaughts at the tip and the start of the 2nd half, and make them (the team and the crowd) sweat. If we can do that, the doubts that the Big Blue nation already have will become front of mind. The team will hear voices, the crowd will get quiet, and there is nothing so intimidating to a home team as a quiet arena.