As the NCAA Tournament draws closer, Kentucky Basketball finds itself in a state of flux. With Selection Sunday on the horizon, the Wildcats' tournament seeding is a hot topic, especially after their recent setback against Auburn.
Just last week, Kentucky was riding high as a projected No. 6 seed in the National Media Mock Selection. However, that loss has shifted their standing, with most bracketologists now placing them in the 7-8 seed range. This makes their upcoming road game against South Carolina even more critical.
ESPN's bracket guru, Joe Lunardi, has adjusted Kentucky's position from a No. 6 to a No. 8 seed. He envisions a first-round clash in the South Region against No.
9 Clemson, with a potential showdown against top-seeded UConn looming in the second round. That's a tough path, with possible matchups against Texas Tech, Arkansas, or Houston down the line.
Over at Fox Sports, Mike DeCourcy also slots Kentucky as a No. 8 seed, predicting a first-round battle with No. 9 SMU and a possible second-round face-off with No. 1 Michigan.
The Athletic's Joe Rexrode mirrors this sentiment, placing Kentucky at No. 8 against No. 9 Clemson in Buffalo.
A win there could set up a meeting with No. 1 Michigan, with Alabama or St.
John’s potentially waiting in the Sweet 16.
Meanwhile, CBS Sports’ Jerry Palm sees Kentucky as a No. 7 seed, setting them up against No. 10 UCLA, with a likely second-round encounter against No. 2 Illinois.
SB Nation’s Chris Dobbertean projects the Wildcats as a No. 8 seed, taking on No. 9 UCF, before a probable matchup with No. 1 overall seed Duke.
Despite the fluctuations, Bracket Matrix still trends Kentucky as a No. 7 seed, though new bracket updates are pending. With a Wins Above Bubble ranking of No. 27, Kentucky's position remains solid, but the upcoming Quad 2 road game at South Carolina could be a game-changer for their tournament fate.