Life as a member of Big Blue Nation is a rollercoaster right now. Kentucky Wildcats fans have watched their team go from winning eight of nine games to enduring a tough three-game losing streak, ensuring a fourth consecutive 10-loss season. With four regular-season games left, three of which are Quad 1 matchups, the Wildcats have a challenging road ahead before the SEC and NCAA Tournaments.
If Kentucky can manage to win out, fans might find themselves back on a high similar to the post-Tennessee win on February 7, dreaming of a perfect peak leading into the postseason. It’s still within reach.
However, dropping a couple more games could make things pretty uncomfortable. The upcoming game against South Carolina (12-15, 3-11) is crucial, being the last Quad 2 game on the schedule. A loss here would dampen hopes of turning things around, especially with tougher games looming against Nos. 1, 5, and 6 in the league.
Analytics reflect the mixed confidence in the Wildcats. Evan Miyakawa, a respected figure in college basketball analytics, places Kentucky in the middle of the pack, not ruling out a March Madness push just yet.
Miyakawa has categorized the top teams into six groups: Title Favorites, Final Four Potential, Hit-or-Miss, Happy To Be Here, and The Rest. The Wildcats find themselves in the Hit-or-Miss category, a group where some teams will make noise in March, while others may not.
Title favorites include powerhouses like Michigan, Duke, and Arizona. Final Four contenders feature teams like Purdue, UConn, and Gonzaga. Kentucky sits alongside teams such as Alabama, NC State, and Texas, loosely placing them in the 18-29 range, suggesting a potential Round of 32 appearance with a shot at the second weekend.
Below Kentucky are teams like Georgia, Auburn, and UCLA. It's easy to focus on losses to teams like North Carolina and Missouri, but let’s not overlook significant wins against St. John’s, Tennessee, and Arkansas.
With several opportunities left for resume-building victories, the Wildcats need to seize them.
So, is there still a chance for Kentucky? Absolutely.