Resume Rundown: Kentucky is holding steady despite recent slump

Kentucky baseball’s recent slump continued last sweep. The Wildcats were swept by Vanderbilt on the road and are now 3-10 in their last 13 games with four consecutive SEC series losses and a disappointing home performance against archrival Louisville. Things are starting to get away from Nick Mingione’s ballclub.

However, Kentucky’s NCAA Tournament resume is still holding steady.

Let’s take a look at the current resume for the Bat Cats first. Hosting opportunities are beginning to slip away, but a No. 2 seed seems likely at this point.

No. 2 seed Kentucky

Last week, Kentucky fell to the No. 2 line. Despite an 0-4 stretch against Louisville and Vanderbilt, the Bat Cats are holding steady as a No. 2 seed. D1 Baseball’s latest Field of 64 projection has Kentucky as a No. 2 seed facing No. 3 seed UCLA in Duke’s pod.

Here is how D1 Baseball sees the top 16 seeds shaking out entering Kentucky Derby weekend.

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

With conference series remaining against No. 4 South Carolina and No. 6 Florida at Kentucky Proud Park, Mingione’s team will have multiple opportunities to record quality victories in the last three weeks of college baseball’s regular season.

Kentucky drops 2 spots in RPI

Last week, Kentucky checked in at No. 2 in the ratings percentage index (RPI). After an 0-4 week, the Bat Cats are now No. 4 with a 30-13 (11-10) record.

UK has the No. 1 strength of schedule in college baseball that includes a 19-3 non-conference record. Those strong results outside of the SEC are a big reason why an at-large bid feels like a safe bet for this team. With 15 Quad 1 wins, the Bat Cats still have a strong resume.

Kentucky’s 20-4 home record will be put to the test over the next three weeks with the two gigantic home series against the Gamecocks (May 5-7) and Gators (May 18-20).

The weekend ahead

Sixth-year head coach Mark Kingston has a true national title contender at South Carolina. The 2023 Gamecocks team is ranked No. 3, is all the way up to No. 2 in RPI, and owns a 36-8 (14-6) record. Carolina is just one one in the loss column in the SEC title race.

Kentucky will have their hands full this weekend in Lexington.

However, South Carolina just dropped 2 of 3 at home last weekend to Auburn following sweep of Florida. With big series remaining against Arkansas (road) and Tennessee (home), this is a critical weekend in regards to Carolina’s conference title hopes.

A series win would go a long way for either team at Kentucky Proud Park this weekend.