Kentucky trending up in latest Bracketology

After Kentucky’s loss to South Carolina two weeks ago, college basketball writers sounded the alarms about the Cats’ NCAA Tournament chances. Kentucky was routinely among the “first” and “next” four out in projections. Now, riding a four-game winning streak that includes a victory at No. 5 Tennessee, the Cats are inching their way off the bubble.

Kentucky’s average seed is 10.63 on Bracket Matrix, with the Cats appearing in 59 of the 80 projected brackets. On TeamRankings.com, Kentucky is even higher, projected as a 7-seed with a 77% chance of making the field. Even Bart Torvik, which has been low on the Cats this year, sets Kentucky’s projected seed at 8.8, with a 61.4% chance of earning a bid.

Here’s a roundup of the latest NCAA Tournament projections.

ESPN

In his latest Bracketology update this morning, Joe Lunardi has Kentucky among the “last four byes,” meaning they would avoid the “First Four” play-in games in Dayton. The Cats are an 11-seed in the South Region, playing 6-seed Illinois in Des Moines, aka the Orlando Antigua and Chin Coleman Classic. Obviously, the opportunity to advance and play in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight in Louisville is huge.

CBS

Jerry Palm hasn’t updated his Bracketology since Monday morning, but even then, had the Cats safely in as a 10-seed facing 7-seed Wisconsin in the first round. Revenge!

Sports Illustrated

Kevin Sweeney updated his “Bracket Watch” last night and has Kentucky among the “Last Four Byes” as a 10-seed. In this hypothetical, they’d face 7-seed Indiana in the first round in the Midwest Region.

Midwest Region

• No. 1 Alabama* vs. No. 16 Southern U/Nicholls State*
• No. 8 Creighton vs. No. 9 Clemson*
• No. 5 Virginia vs. No. 12 Kent State*
• No. 4 TCU vs. No. 13 Oral Roberts*
• No. 6 Miami vs. No. 11 Memphis
• No. 3 Gonzaga vs. No. 14 Samford*
• No. 7 Indiana vs. No. 10 Kentucky
• No. 2 Texas vs. No. 15 Siena*

The Athletic

Brian Bennett also gives Kentucky one of the “Last Four Byes.” In his bracket, the Cats are a 10-seed, facing 7-seed Iowa in the first round in Sacramento.

Obviously, a win over No. 9 Kansas would give Kentucky’s resume another big boost. Tomorrow night’s matchup is one of seven Quad 1 games left on the schedule. Despite their three-game losing streak, the Jayhawks are still projected to be a 2-seed by most. Palm still has Kansas at a 1-seed but hasn’t released an update since their loss to Baylor on Monday night.

Just keep winning.