Kentucky draws Rick Pitino in the first round of this new NCAA Tournament projection

While we wait for the tip-off between Kentucky and Vanderbilt, let’s look around the internet for mentions of the Wildcats in NCAA Tournament conversations. At least three major tournament projections were updated in the last 24 hours, two of which pit Kentucky against a coaching villain. We’ll start with the super-villain in the NCAA’s own projection.

Pitino in Round 1

Andy Katz has a diabolical projection in his latest stab at the NCAA Tournament field. Katz has Kentucky as a No. 6, playing in the South Region against a familiar foe: Rick Pitino. That’s right. Katz projects No. 6 Kentucky vs. No. 11 St. John’s in the South’s opening round. Can you imagine the pressure on John Calipari in that scenario? There isn’t a worse opponent he could run into in the first round.

The Wildcats are the No. 23 overall seed in Katz’s projection.

🚨 NEW BRACKET PREDICTION 🚨

As we enter February, @TheAndyKatz predicts how the bracket will shake out 👀

👉 https://t.co/p83Bid422B pic.twitter.com/TWJrxI5b5k

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) February 6, 2024

Shaheen Holloway vs. John Calipari, The Rematch

Over at FOX College Hoops, Mike DeCourcy pits Kentucky against another first-round villain: Shaheen Holloway, the former Saint Peter’s head coach. Now at Seton Hall, his alma mater, Holloway has the Pirates ranked No. 66 in the NET with four Quad 1 wins and an overall record of 14-8. DeCourcy’s projection has No. 11 seed Seton Hall playing No. 6 Kentucky in the South, setting up another Holloway-Calipari showdown. Holloway was the clear winner of their first meeting, unfortunately.

The latest and greatest from @tsnmike 🙌

What do you think? pic.twitter.com/bq1Od9cVb6

— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) February 6, 2024

Joey Brackets sends the Cats to Spokane

Joe Lunardi updated his ESPN Bracketology yesterday, moving Kentucky’s opening weekend games to Spokane, Washington, as the East’s No. 5 seed. No. 12 Samford and the winner of No. 4 Dayton/No. 13 Akron are Kentucky’s first two opponents in Lunardi’s new projection. No. 1 UConn and No. 2 Kansas would likely be waiting in Boston, setting up a gauntlet to the Final Four.

More in KSR’s Resume Watch

Tyler Thompson dissects Kentucky’s team sheet each Monday in the NCAA Resume Watch. Yesterday, she shared a reason to be optimistic: that half of Kentucky’s ten remaining games are Quad 1 opportunities. The Wildcats are 2-4 in those games to date. Tonight’s game against Vanderbilt is a Quad 3 game. Kentucky has to beat the Commodores to right the ship, or we may be in the conversation for a different tournament in March.

Go Cats. Beat Vandy. No Pitino, please.