With only four games left in the Cats' regular season, they seem to be a team that's lost. Their mental mistakes on both sides of the court are causing them to fall short in close cames.

Tubby Smith admits that his team is struggling, but feels that this team can return to their earlier season form. "We have to believe in each other and the system," he said in his press conference earlier today.

So what is it that this team needs to do to bounce back?

"It's the little things," Tubby said.

Although it sounds simple, those little things can add up to a big problem for these Kentucky Wildcats. Breakdowns in defensive coverage, missed shots, bad shot selections, lack of killer instinct, and slow starts have been the story of the Cats for the past three games.

"We need to be more disciplined," Tubby explained in his press conference.

Discipline is certainly a good start for these Wildcats, that still have a tough schedule ahead of them with games against LSU, Vandy, Georgia, and Florida still on their schedule.

This Kentucky team has been a victim of their own doing. In trying to do too much, they have forgotten the basics and in turn have defeated themselves in the past three games.

These mental breakdowns have been the undoing for the Cats.

With four games left in the regular season, they must work on the little things before tournament time.

They'll have a tough challenge with LSU. Glen "Big Baby" Davis is a presence in the middle, and will test the Cats down low. To make matters worse, Davis is the type of big guy that can pound you in the paint one possession, but can step out and hit the three on the next. Terry Martin is shooting well for the Tigers, he has 23 three-pointers in SEC play. With three players on their team scoring double digits a game (Davis 18.1, Mitchell 14.1, and Martin 10.4), defense is going to be key for the Cats in this game. Unfortunately, that's been the one thing that Kentucky seems to be lacking in their past three games.

By no means do I feel that three games determines a season, but I honestly feel that this game against LSU will set the tone for the Cats for the rest of the season and into the tournament. A loss against LSU could potentially send the team into a mental hole that could be too big to crawl out of. A win against LSU could restore confidence in the team that could make them dangerous in both tournaments. For now, it seems like this team is on the edge. Whether or not they fall off the cliff or ascend to the top of the mountain is to be seen.

Kentucky v. LSU 9pm Tuesday @ Rupp Arena

Keys to the game:
1. Kentucky by no means cannot have a slow start to this game
-They must press more and come up with more quick baskets. The small lineup has
allowed the Cats to push the ball up and down the court more. Maybe they need to go to
that lineup sooner.
2. They must have a presence down low
-In other words: Randolph Morris must show up. He admitted himself that his head
wasn't in the game against Alabama. Whatever he has to do to get there mentally, he
needs to figure it out before tomorrow night.
3. Mentally, everyone needs to get on the same page
-I hope I haven't said it too much, but they're beating themselves. Over the course of this
season we have seen flickers of greatness from them. Whatever they need to do,
whatever they need to find within themselves, they have until tomorrow to find it.

Key stat of the game:
There are so many... But I'm going to say that it's going to be 1st half points for the Cats. If they get off to a slow start, they will beat themselves trying to catch up.

Key player of the game:
It's been overdone, but Randolph Morris. He needs to have a good game against Davis.

I think Cats pull this one off 74-69.