Bracketology: Kentucky trending as No. 5 seed after Auburn win
As we’ve discussed ad nauseam since Saturday, Kentucky’s win over Auburn was a very good thing. The upset victory gave the Cats some much-needed momentum, opened the door to the double-bye in the SEC Tournament, and provided their NCAA Tournament resume with a signature Quad 1 win.
Going into the Auburn game, Kentucky’s projected NCAA Tournament seed was all over the place, ranging from a No. 6 seed to a No. 8 seed. After the win on the Plains, the Cats are now trending as a No. 5 seed with room to grow. Three of Kentucky’s six remaining games are in Quad 1; if the Cats can build on the momentum from Saturday and avoid slip-ups, they can climb even higher by Selection Sunday.
Here is where the Cats stand in the latest Bracketology.
ESPN: No. 5 seed
Joe Lunardi moved Kentucky up a seed line to a No. 5 seed in his daily update on Sunday. This morning, he unveiled his full bracket update on ESPN. Kentucky is in the Midwest Region in this draw, playing opening-round games in Spokane. If the Cats make it to the Sweet 16, they could face No. 1 seed Purdue in Detroit.
Kentucky is No. 18 on Lunardi’s latest seed list behind Wisconsin, just below the No. 4 seed line.
Mike DeCourcy: No. 5 seed
In his bracket forecast for FOX Sports, Mike DeCourcy puts Kentucky in the West Region as the No. 5 seed, facing No. 12 seed Indiana State in the first round. Arizona is the No. 1 seed in this scenario, setting up a potential Sweet 16 matchup vs. the West Coast Wildcats in Los Angeles for a spot in the Elite Eight.
Top 10
- 1
Underranked SEC
Lane Kiffin protests CFP rankings
- 2New
Saban chirped
Big 12 comes after GOAT
- 3
DJ Lagway
Fan flashes Florida QB to Pope
- 4Hot
Strength of Schedule
CFP Top 25 SOS ranking
- 5
Alabama needs a prayer
Tide can make the CFP but needs help
Andy Katz: No. 5 seed
In his update for the official NCAA March Madness account, Andy Katz puts the Cats in the South Region as the No. 5 seed, potentially facing No. 4 seed Creighton in the second round. No. 1 seed Houston could be Kentucky’s Sweet 16 opponent, making for a wild atmosphere in Dallas. Make it to the Elite Eight and the Cats could face No. 2 seed Tennessee or No. 3 seed Duke.
USA Today: No. 5 seed
USA Today’s panel of Paul Myerberg, Erick Smith, and Eddie Timanus also paired No. 5 seed Kentucky with No. 1 seed Houston in the South Region. Their other No. 5 seeds are Auburn, Wisconsin, and Texas Tech.
CBS Sports: No. 6 seed
Jerry Palm is the lowest on the Cats among the national media. He has Kentucky as his lowest No. 6 seed, just above the No. 7 seed line. In this scenario, the Cats could face No. 3 seed Duke in the second round in Brooklyn for the chance to play No. 2 seed Kansas in Los Angeles.
CBS Sports Seed List
Got thoughts? Continue the conversation on KSBoard, the KSR Message Board. New members can try 1 month for $1.
Discuss This Article
Comments have moved.
Join the conversation and talk about this article and all things Kentucky Sports in the new KSR Message Board.
KSBoard