Second-round storylines are everywhere for Kentucky in Bracketology
It’s a Friday in late February, which means we have a new batch of Bracketology to review. Going into the LSU game, Kentucky was trending as a No. 5 seed in NCAA Tournament projections. After the loss to the Tigers, the Cats are down at least a seed line in the eyes of the pundits with 23 days to go until Selection Sunday.
As you’ll see, if Kentucky is a No. 6 seed, there could be some juicy second-round storylines. Right now, Duke, Baylor, and Alabama are all projected to be No. 3 seeds. Obviously, there’s history with the Blue Devils, but John Calipari vs. Scott Drew also provides intrigue, especially if Baylor knocks the Cats out. By beating Alabama tomorrow, Kentucky could climb a seed line to avoid some of that noise.
You know how this works. Let’s hop right in.
ESPN: No. 6 seed
Joe Lunardi dropped the Cats from a No. 5 to a No. 6 seed. This draw puts Kentucky in Omaha, potentially facing No. 3 seed Iowa State in the second round and No. 2 seed North Carolina in the Sweet 16. Get past all of that and the Cats may face defending champ UConn for a spot in the Final Four. In Boston, nonetheless.
Kentucky is the No. 23 team on Lunardi’s seed list.
The Athletic: No. 6 seed
How do you feel about playing Duke in the second round? That’s a popular scenario if Kentucky ends up as a No. 6 seed. Brian Bennett’s latest update for The Athletic puts the Cats and the No. 3 seed Blue Devils in Brooklyn. The winner could face another blueblood, No. 2 seed Kansas, in the Sweet 16, and No. 1 seed Arizona in the Elite Eight in Los Angeles. This path has storylines and would break KSR’s travel budget.
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Tony Bennett retires
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Kentucky is Bennett’s No. 24 overall team, so at the bottom of the No. 6 seed line.
Mike DeCourcy: No. 6 seed
In his weekly update for FOX Sports, DeCourcy puts the Cats in the East Region as a No. 6 seed, with an opening-round rematch vs. No. 11 seed Providence. Like Lunardi, DeCourcy pairs Kentucky with No. 3 seed Iowa State, No. 2 seed North Carolina, and No. 1 seed UConn.
USA Today: No. 6 seed
USA Today’s trio of Paul Myerberg, Erick Smith, and Eddie Timanus also likes the potential Kentucky vs. Duke second-round matchup. In this scenario, Kentucky would have to get past No. 11 Seton Hall, coached by…former Saint Peter’s coach Shaheen Holloway. Oof. All of this would take place in Charlotte, which is just two hours from Durham.
CBS Sports: No. 7 seed
Jerry Palm continues to be the lowest on the Cats, dropping them from a No. 6 seed to a No. 7 in his update following the LSU loss. He puts the Cats in Indianapolis for the first and second rounds, facing Northwestern and potentially Marquette to advance to the Sweet 16, where Bama could be waiting in Dallas, along with No. 1 seed Houston.
Kentucky is No. 27 on Palm’s seed list, just a few spots from the No. 8 seed line.
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