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Resume Rundown: Where to expect Kentucky in Bracket Reveal

Adam Luckettby:Adam Luckettabout 17 hours

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Mark Pope, Kentucky Basketball |  Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
(Jordan Prather-Imagn Images) Feb 11, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Otega Oweh (00) talks with head coach Mark Pope during the second half against the Tennessee Volunteers at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center.

After a swoon that included four losses over five SEC games, we saw the Kentucky basketball team put a pair of strong performances at home together over the last few days. The Wildcats handled their business against South Carolina in a Quad 3 game at Rupp Arena before recording another Quad 1A victory against Tennessee. Mark Pope’s team had a nice bounce-back as the SEC race heats up.

On Saturday before the start of Wisconsin-Purdue, CBS will have its annual bracket reveal with the committee chair revealing the current top-16 seeds. Kentucky almost certainly locked up a spot in that group after the big victory on Tuesday.

Will the Cats appear on the No. 3 or No. 4 line?

Luckett’s Top 16 projection

  1. Auburn (22-2, 10-1)
  2. Alabama (21-3, 10-1)
  3. Duke (21-3, 13-1)
  4. Tennessee (20-5, 7-5)
  5. Florida (21-3, 8-3)
  6. Purdue (19-6, 11-3)
  7. Texas A&M (19-5, 8-3)
  8. Houston (20-4, 12-1)
  9. Iowa State (19-5, 9-4)
  10. Arizona (17-7, 11-2)
  11. Kentucky (17-7, 6-5)
  12. Texas Tech (19-5, 10-3)
  13. Kansas (17-7, 8-5)
  14. Wisconsin (19-5, 9-4)
  15. Michigan (19-5, 11-2)
  16. Ole Miss (19-6, 8-4)
AtlantaIndianapolisNewarkSan Francisco
1. Auburn (1)1. Alabama (2)1. Duke (3)1. Tennessee (4)
2. Texas A&M (7)2. Purdue (6)2. Florida (5)2. Houston (8)
3. Arizona (10)3. Iowa State (9)3. Texas Tech (12)3. Kentucky (11)
4. Wisconsin (14)4. Kansas (13)4. Ole Miss (16)4. Michigan (15)

Expect a heavy SEC flavor on Saturday. Tennessee is currently battling Florida for the final No. 1 seed. Texas A&M should find itself on the No. 2 line due to top-10 result metrics, a winning Quad 1A record, and a top-five schedule. Kentucky’s Quad 1 record (8-6) and four top-10 wins should serve as a differentiator as you begin to try and separate teams on the No. 3 and No. 4 line.

A reminder that the committee will try to keep the top 16 seeds as close to home as possible, but wants to avoid conference rematches as much as possible until the Elite Eight. That gets Kentucky to the West Coast for a potential 2019 Sweet 16 rematch with Houston. Using the snake path to determine first weekend locations, Kentucky would start the tournament in Cleveland as a protected seed along with Florida.

Weekend games to watch

What are the games that could impact Kentucky’s resume this weekend? These are ones to watch closely.

Arkansas at No. 8 Texas A&MNoon (ESPN)A&M is surging but Kentucky’s Quad 2 loss could get close to Quad 1 territory if the Hogs leave College Station with a victory.
No. 16 Wisconsin at No. 7 Purdue1:00 (CBS)Wisconsin is a No. 4 seed who will make a jump with a road Quad 1A win against Purdue in Mackey Arena.
No. 6 Houston at No. 13 Arizona2:00 (ESPN)Arizona is one of the No. 3 seeds that Kentucky is chasing. Tommy Lloyd’s team gets a big Quad 1A home opportunity on Saturday afternoon in Tucson.
No. 12 Texas Tech at Oklahoma State3:00 (ESPN+)Texas Tech needed double-overtime to beat Arizona State at home and now hits the road in Big 12 play.
No. 21 Missouri at Georgia3:30 (SEC Network)Mizzou is ahead of Kentucky in the SEC Tournament race and has a tricky road game before hosting Alabama on Wednesday.
No. 1 Auburn at No. 2 Alabama4:00 (ESPN)Alabama could have a case for the No. 1 overall seed with a win in Tuscaloosa on Saturday.
No. 22 Mississippi State at No. 19 Ole Miss6:00 (ESPN2)Ole Miss is ahead of Kentucky in the SEC Tournament race and on the No. 4 seed line. Mississippi State is reeling and needs a big win.
No. 11 Michigan State at Illinois8:00 (FOX)Both Big Ten teams are flirting with a No. 4 seed.
No. 17 Kansas at Utah10:00 (ESPN)Kansas is one of those teams in a tier with Kentucky and faces a tricky after-dark conference game in Salt Lake City.
No. 20 Michigan at Ohio StateNoon | Sunday (CBS)Michigan is a No. 4 seed and Kentucky’s loss to Ohio State keeps improving. A win by the home team would help the Cats.
No. 24 Creighton at No. 9 St. John’s3:00 | Sunday (FS1)St. John’s is flirting with a No. 4 seed but needs more Quad 1 wins to climb the seed line. Sunday is a big opportunity.

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2025-02-14