LIVE BLOG: Tracking Kentucky's SEC Tournament Scenarios

Step one is complete for the Kentucky Wildcats and their pursuit of a double-bye in Nashville. They could not afford an Arkansas loss at Missouri, and, thanks to Coach Cal, the Razorbacks held on in Columbia with an 88-84 overtime finish.

Meleek Thomas led the Hogs with 28 points, followed by Trevon Brazile with 19 and Malique Ewin with 17. Mark Mitchell went for 32 points in the losing effort.

For UK to earn the No. 4 seed, it now has to beat Florida this afternoon, obviously, plus a win for Vanderbilt over Tennessee in Knoxville. As things stand currently, the Commodores lead by double figures as the first half inches to a close at the Food City Center. That is excellent news for the blue and white — we need Mark Byington’s squad to hold on.

The Arkansas win knocks out a No. 7 seed for the Wildcats entirely and one of two options for a No. 5 or a No. 6 seed. Take a look at the remaining scenarios:

Kentucky’s double-bye fate will come down to overtime between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Missouri Tigers — tied up at 74-74 at the end of regulation in Columbia.

Meanwhile, Vanderbilt leads Tennessee 11-2 early in the first half in Knoxville. The Wildcats need the Commodores in that one, too.

It’s never easy, is it?

No. 4 seed

— Beat Florida + Vanderbilt beats Tennessee + Arkansas beats Missouri: UK wins tiebreaker because of three wins over Tennessee and Vandy. Texas A&M vs. LSU result does not matter.

No. 5 seed

— Beat Florida + Vanderbilt beats Tennessee + Missouri beats Arkansas: Mizzou wins No. 4 seed due to pool record (4-0). UK wins tiebreaker over Vandy due to best win (Florida). Texas A&M vs. LSU result does not matter.

OR

— Beat Florida + Tennessee beats Vanderbilt + Arkansas beats Missouri + LSU beats Texas A&M. UK is the only 11-7 team on the No. 5 seed line.

No. 6 seed

— Beat Florida + Tennessee beats Vanderbilt + Texas A&M beats LSU + Arkansas beats Missouri: A&M and UK are in two-way tie at 11-7. Aggies win No. 5 seed tiebreaker due to head-to-head win.

OR

— Beat Florida + Tennessee beats Vanderbilt + LSU beats Texas A&M + Missouri beats Arkansas: UK is tied at 11-7 with Mizzou. Tigers win No. 5 seed tiebreaker due to head-to-head win.

No. 7 seed

— Beat Florida + Tennessee beats Vanderbilt + Missouri beats Arkansas + Texas A&M beats LSU: Mizzou, A&M, and UK are tied at 11-7. The Wildcats finish third in that three-way tiebreaker due to an 0-2 pool record.

No. 8 seed

— Lose to Florida + Mississippi State beats Georgia + Oklahoma beats Texas: Texas and Georgia would both be below Kentucky at 9-9. UK would finish last in 10-8 tiebreaker involving remaining teams.

No. 9 seed

— Lose to Florida + Auburn beats Alabama + Texas A&M beats LSU + Arkansas beats Missouri + Georgia beats Mississippi State + Tennessee beats Vanderbilt + Texas beats Oklahoma: This is a five-team tie at 10-8. UK and Vandy are tied with worst pool record (2-3). UK owns tiebreaker for best win (Arkansas) since the Hogs would finish above Alabama in this scenario.

OR

— Lose to Florida + Oklahoma beats Texas: A Texas loss drops them to 9-9 and out of the 10-8 tiebreaker. Kentucky would finish behind every other 10-8 team due to pool record.

OR

— Lose to Florida + Mississippi State beats Georgia: Same as above. UGA would finish 9-9 and fall below Kentucky. UK would lose this tiebreaker and finish last among the 10-8 teams.

No. 10 seed

— Lose to Florida + Alabama beats Auburn + Georgia beats Mississippi State + Texas beats Oklahoma + Tennessee beats Vanderbilt: UK loses this tiebreaker whether A&M is 10-8 or 11-7. This scenario creates a huge tie. Kentucky and Vanderbilt own worst pool record (2-3). Vandy wins the tiebreaker due to best win (Alabama) since the Tide would finish ahead of Arkansas.

OR

— Lose to Florida + LSU beats Texas A&M + Georgia beats Mississippi State + Texas beats Oklahoma + Tennessee beats Vanderbilt: This creates a six-team tie at 10-8. UK finishes last in the tiebreaker due to pool record (2-4).