SEC Tournament 2017 bracket: Kentucky claims the SEC

Mar 11, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard De'Aaron Fox (0) reacts after making a basket during the second half against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the SEC Conference Tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Kentucky won 79-74. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

The Kentucky Wildcats claimed their third straight SEC Tournament title with a win in Sunday’s championship game over the Arkansas Razorbacks.

John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats will enter the Big Dance on a high note after winning their third straight SEC Tournament championship with an 82-65 victory over the Arkansas Razorbacks on Sunday afternoon in Nashville.

De’Aaron Fox scored 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field to help Kentucky largely control the action from start to finish. Arkansas made a late push in the final few minutes, but could get no closer than a nine-point deficit with 1:38 to go.

Things got chippy in the final minute, as Arkansas was called for two flagrant fouls, leading to forward Moses Kingsley getting ejected. While the rivalry between the two programs has cooled since the 1990s, there’s some bad blood at the moment following a heated recruiting battle for Kentucky star Malik Monk.

It wasn’t always that easy for the Wildcats this week, as they had to fight hard to beat Alabama 79-74 in the semifinals on Saturday. Kentucky has had to come from behind against a few less talented teams in recent weeks, but has looked much better overall since being blown out at Florida on Feb. 4.

Here’s a look at the final bracket for the 2017 SEC Tournament.

The other major result of the tournament was Vanderbilt topping Florida in overtime on Friday, which will likely earn the Commodores an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament. Frank Martin also has to be a little concern with his team going one-and-done with a quarterfinal exit against the Crimson Tide, as South Carolina has now lost five of its last seven games.

Kentucky’s run through the SEC Tournament will likely result in a two seed, although there’s an outside chance the committee puts it on the one line in the South Region.