Resume Rundown: Big weekend gets Kentucky back in national seed picture

Kentucky baseball has ended a rough patch with a four-game winning streak. That has put Nick Mingione’s club in a position to be a national seed come Selection Sunday.

There is still a lot of baseball to be played, but last weekend’s sweep of top-five South Carolina did wonders for the Bat Cats. UK currently has one of the best resumes in college baseball and should be hosting as long as there are no sweeps in the remaining two SEC series.

Let’s dive into Kentucky’s current resume.

National Seed Kentucky

After three impressive home wins over South Carolina followed by another mid-week victory over Tennessee Tech, we have seen the Cats move to No. 1 in the ratings percentage index (RPI) again. For D1 Baseball, that is good enough to project Nick Mingione’s club to be a national seed.

In their latest Field of 64 projection, Kentucky is the final national seed.

1. Wake Forest
2. LSU
3. Vanderbilt
4. Arkansas
5. Stanford
6. Duke
7. West Virginia
8. Kentucky
9. Florida
10. South Carolina
11. Clemson
12. Coastal Carolina
13. Miami
14. Boston College
15. Oklahoma State
16. UConn

The Cats finally got the huge series win (South Carolina) over a top-20 team and that certainly helped solidify the resume. A huge home series with Florida is on the schedule for next weekend. The result of that series could determine a national seed.

In Kentucky’s current pod, the Bat Cats would face No. 4 seed Kent State in the opening round while No. 2 seed Indiana State and No. 3 seed Notre Dame would also make trips to Lexington.

Strength of schedule is boosting resume numbers

Kentucky (34-13, 14-10) is back up to No. 1 in RPI. The Bat Cats own 10 true road wins, are an impressive 24-4 at Kentucky Proud Park, and own 15 Quadrant 1 wins with zero Quadrant 3/Quadrant 4 losses. All of those factors are driving the resume, but none more than strength of schedule.

Kentucky has the No. 1 strength of schedule in college baseball. That helps, but non-conference scheduling is important. Currently, the Bat Cats own the No. 8 non-conference strength of schedule. That is enhancing the resume.

Wright State is the favorite to win the Horizon League. Kentucky took 2 of 3 from the Raiders on the final weekend in February. Indiana State is top-10 in RPI and in the conversation to host. Kentucky swept the Sycamores in March. Indiana has the inside track to an at-large bid. Kentucky recorded a run-rule victory over the Hoosiers on March 14.

Kentucky’s only three non-conference losses — Wright State, Elon, and Louisville — could be to three NCAA Tournament teams. Add in three SEC series wins over top-30 RPI teams and that gives you one of the best resumes in college baseball.

The weekend ahead

A tall challenge awaits Kentucky this weekend when the Wildcats hit the road to face No. 23 Tennessee. Tony Vitello’s team sits at No. 24 in RPI with a gaudy 30-4 home record at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

Kentucky took a surprising series win over No. 1 Tennessee last year at Kentucky Proud Park and the Vols will be looking to return the favor on Rocky Top this weekend. Tennessee is 12-12 in SEC play but has recorded three SEC series sweeps — Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, and Mississippi State — at home this season.

Getting just one win this weekend would go a long way. First pitch is Friday night at 6:30 p.m. ET.