They say it’s hard to beat a team three times. That colloquialism is being echoed throughout the SEC ahead of Kentucky’s rematch with Tennessee in the Sweet 16. How hard is it to beat a team four times?

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There are, however, X-factor players on each team. They aren’t the leading scorer, and they’re closer to being glue guys. They’re the guys who we could look back on at the conclusion of the Sweet 16 and say, “Team ‘X’ advanced because of player ‘X.'” Alternatively, we could look back and say, “Team ‘X’ lost because player ‘X’ didn’t step up.”