Kentucky MBB and WBB up to 3-seeds in latest ESPN Bracketology

Kentucky basketball’s first-year head coaches have both programs looking to make deep postseason runs.

We’re to the point in the season where ESPN is releasing a new Bracketology multiple times per week. Over the weekend, the NCAA Bracket Preview gave us an official look from the committee as to how the men’s and women’s fields stand as of mid-February. The Kentucky men were given a 3-seed while the Kentucky women earned a 4-seed for the upcoming 2025 NCAA Tournament.

A few days later with more results to account for, ESPN is thinking similarly to the committee. As of Tuesday morning, Joe Lunardi has Mark Pope‘s Wildcats as a 3-seed while Charlie Creme has Kenny Brooks‘ Wildcats also as a 3-seed. This is especially significant for the women’s team, which was listed as a 5-seed just the other day. With the women’s NCAA Tournament, top four seeds get to host the first two rounds.

Starting with the men’s team, Lunardi has Kentucky taking on 14-seed UNC Greensboro in the opening round with a second-round matchup against the winner of 6-seed Illinois and 11-seed George Mason. Those games would take place in Providence as part of the Midwest Region. UK is one of 13 SEC teams among Lunardi’s field of 68, which would be a tournament record for a single conference.

Even with the recent loss to Texas, bracketologists appear to be accounting for Kentucky’s many injuries. UK is No. 16 in the latest NET Rankings with an 8-7 Quad 1 record, one of four teams with at least eight Quad 1 wins. Only Auburn has more Quad 1 victories in the country this season with 14. The Wildcats are 0-1 in Quad 2, 3-0 in Quad 3, and 6-0 in Quad 4. There is still not a “bad” loss on the resume with six regular season games to go.

As for the women’s team, holding onto a top-four seed is significant. Looking at Creme’s projected field, Kentucky would first host 14-seed Montana State at Memorial Coliseum in the Birmingham Region. A win would keep the ‘Cats in Lexington for a second-round matchup against the winner of 6-seed Baylor (which rosters former UK guard Jada Walker) and the 11-seed First Four winner between Harvard and Washington.

Brooks’ team is also on a bit of a skid, posting a 1-2 record across a rare three-game week. But one of those losses was to No. 2 Texas. Kentucky also won its most recent game at home against Georgia. UK is now 4-3 in Quad 1 opportunities, 4-0 in Quad 2, 2-1 in Quad 3, and 10-0 in Quad 4. Even with a Quad 3 defeat, the ‘Cats still have a solid resume. They can build on it too with three of the final regular season games coming against Top 15 opponents.