Bracketology: Kentucky vs. Morehead State in the First Round?

Selection Sunday is within sight and last night, two more teams punched their tickets to the Big Dance. James Madison (Sun Belt) and Samford (Southern) won their conference tournaments to join the field, prompting a fresh batch of Bracketology. Kentucky is on the No. 3/No. 4 seed line in most major projections and the latest updates have the Cats facing a familiar foe in the first round.

There isn’t a consensus on what region the Cats will be in but Pittsburgh is trending as Kentucky’s first and second-round destination. Texas A&M, Kentucky’s potential opponent on Friday night at the SEC Tournament, is still on the bubble, meaning the Aggies will be fighting for their postseason lives in Nashville. To the roundup!

ESPN: No. 3 seed, East Region

Joe Lunardi shuffled a few things in this morning’s bracket. He replaced Wisconsin with Clemson as the No. 6 seed in Kentucky’s region, playing the winner of the No. 11 seed play-in game St. John’s vs. Indiana State. Rick Pitino or Robbie Avila, aka Cream Abdul-Jabbar? Yes, please.

As entertaining as that scenario is, to get to the second round, Kentucky would have to beat No. 14 seed Morehead State, coached by former UK assistant Preston Spradlin. Can we pair the Eagles with another No. 3 seed like Duke or Baylor so we can cheer for them, please? Also not a big fan of facing No. 2 seed North Carolina and/or No. 1 seed UConn in Boston.

Kentucky is No. 10 on Lunardi’s seed list:

pic.twitter.com/FfquiR2Y2A

— Joe Lunardi (@ESPNLunardi) March 12, 2024

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USA Today: No. 3 seed, Midwest Region

USA Today’s trio of Paul Myerberg, Erick Smith, and Eddie Timanus also pair No. 3 seed Kentucky with No. 14 seed Morehead State in Pittsburgh, but in the Midwest Region with No. 1 seed Purdue and No. 2 seed Iowa State. They moved the Cats up to a No. 3 seed following the win at Tennessee, and say they can climb even higher with a deep run in Nashville.

“John Calipari’s usual collection of next-level talent seems to have figured some things out. Kentucky has moved up to a No. 3 seed in our latest bracket projection, and the Wildcats could make a strong case for moving higher if they claim the SEC tournament crown this week. That’s especially so if the title comes with another win against Tennessee, which we still have on the 1-seed line.”

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Andy Katz: No. 3 seed, South Region

Andy Katz also likes Kentucky vs. Morehead State in the first round but in the South Region. The winner would face No. 6 seed Texas Tech vs. No. 11 seed Virginia/New Mexico. Of all of the projected No. 1 seeds, Houston is the one I’d like to face the least, especially in Dallas.

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Bracketville: No. 3 seed, South Region

The Cats are also a No. 3 seed in the South Region in Bracketville’s update this morning. Kentucky is the No. 11 team on the seed list behind Iowa State and ahead of Duke.

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The Athletic: No. 4 seed, Midwest Region

Brian Bennett still has Kentucky as a No. 4 seed in his bracket, playing opening-round games in Pittsburgh with the possibility of facing No. 1 seed Purdue in the Sweet 16 in Detroit. Kentucky is the No. 13 team on his seed list, so the highest of the No. 4 seeds.

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CBS Sports: No. 4 seed, Midwest Region

Jerry Palm is keeping the Cats on the No. 4 seed line for now, behind Alabama. This scenario would put Kentucky in Spokane playing No. 13 seed Vermont to face No. 5 Utah State vs. No. 12 Grand Canyon.

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Kentucky’s resume compared to other No. 3/No. 4 seeds

Here’s how Kentucky’s team sheet compares to other teams on the No. 3 and No. 4 seed lines. As I outlined yesterday, the Cats could play up to three Quad 1 games in Nashville to add to their 6-5 Quad 1 record.