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Season-Ender To Determine Gators' SEC Opener In Tampa

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By JOEY JOHNSTON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 6, 2009

TAMPA - The Florida Gators and Kentucky Wildcats – both fighting for their NCAA Tournament lives – will play on the first day of next week's Southeastern Conference Men's Basketball Tournament at the St. Pete Times Forum.

And their opening-day assignments – literally – will be the difference between night and day.

The Gators (21-9, 8-7) face the Wildcats (19-11, 8-7) in Saturday afternoon's regular-season finale in Gainesville.

If Florida beats Kentucky, it is the SEC East No. 3 seed and will face Arkansas (the West No. 6 seed) at 9:45 Thursday night. That would give Kentucky the SEC East No. 4 seed, and a slot in the tournament's opening game, at 1 p.m. Thursday, against the SEC West No. 5 seed (likely Alabama).

If Florida loses to Kentucky, it is the SEC East No. 4 seed and will play in the tournament's opening game on Thursday afternoon at 1 against the SEC West No. 5 seed (likely Alabama). That would give Kentucky the SEC East No. 6 seed, and a meeting with Arkansas (the West No. 6 seed) at 9:45 Thursday night.

Tennessee (the SEC East No. 1), South Carolina (SEC East No. 2), LSU (SEC West No. 1) and Auburn (SEC West No. 2) have clinched first-round byes and will not play until Friday.

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