A tired and struggling Kentucky team will find no relief tonight in Columbia, a place where things rarely end well. Since Colonial Life Arena was renamed in 2009, Kentucky has played 11 games inside the unfriendly confines and walked away victorious just five times.
Colonial Life Arena loves destroying Kentucky dreams
The misery started early. Billy Gillispie was the first Kentucky coach to feel it, watching his team get handled 77-59 in 2009. Unfortunately, it didn’t stop there.
In 2010, Kentucky arrived in Columbia ranked No. 1 in the country. Darrin Horn and South Carolina knocked the Cats off their pedestal with a stunning 68-62 upset, fueled by a 30-point explosion from Devan Downey.