NCAA Resume Watch: Kentucky can finish the season with a bang

Two weeks from now, we will know Kentucky’s path in the NCAA Tournament. The Cats’ resume is trending up, and they can put a big cherry on top with a win over Tennessee in Knoxville on Saturday.

Kentucky is No. 20 in the NET Rankings, one spot lower than this time last week. The Cats’ win over Mississippi State in Starkville goes in Quad 1, while the win over Arkansas in Rupp goes in Quad 3. Kentucky’s Quad 1 record is 5-5, but that could improve if Mississippi State climbs back into the top 30 of the NET. Obviously, Saturday’s game at Tennessee is in Quad 1; a win would be Kentucky’s most impressive of the season in terms of resume. The Vols are No. 5 in the NET Rankings and a projected No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Win in Knoxville and perform well in Nashville and the Cats could end up with a No. 4 or even No. 3 seed in the Big Dance.

As we’ll do each Monday until Selection Sunday, let’s look at Kentucky’s team sheet, which the Selection Committee will use as it determines the Cats’ seed in the NCAA Tournament.

• Quad 1: 5-5 (1 game remaining)
• Quad 2: 2-2
• Quad 3: 8-1
• Quad 4: 6-0 (1 game remaining)

Quad 1: 5-5

Home: 1-30 | Neutral: 1-50 | Away: 1-75

NET	Date	Opponent	Result
5	3/9/2024	at Tennessee
5	2/3/2024	Tennessee	L 92-103
6	2/17/2024	at Auburn	W 70-59
7	2/24/2024	Alabama	W 117-95
9	12/16/2023	North Carolina (CBS Sports Classic)	W 87-83
16	2/10/2024	Gonzaga	L 85-89
18	11/14/2023	Kansas (Champions Classic)	L 84-89
32	2/27/2024	at Mississippi St.	W 91-89
33	1/6/2024	at Florida	W 87-85
47	1/23/2024	at South Carolina	L 62-79
54	1/13/2024	at Texas A&M	L 92-97 (1 OT)

Quad 2: 2-2

Home: 31-75 | Neutral: 51-100 | Away: 76-135

NET	Date	Opponent	Result
32	1/17/2024	Mississippi State	W 90-77
33	1/31/2024	Florida	L 91-94 (1 OT)
88	2/21/2024	at LSU	L 74-75
121	1/27/2024	at Arkansas	W 63-57

Quad 3: 8-1

Home: 76-160 | Neutral: 101-200 | Away: 136-240

NET	Date	Opponent	Result
78	2/13/2024	Ole Miss	W 75-63
89	11/28/2023	Miami (FL)	W 95-73
95	11/20/2023	Saint Joseph’s	W 96-88 (1 OT)
104	1/20/2024	Georgia	W 105-96
112	12/2/2023	UNC Wilmington	L 73-80
121	3/2/2024	Arkansas	W 111-102
151	1/9/2024	Missouri	W 90-77
208	12/21/2023	at Louisville	W 95-76
221	2/6/2024	at Vanderbilt	W 109-77

Quad 4: 6-0

Home: 161-362 | Neutral: 201-362 | Away: 241-362

NET	Date	Opponent	Result
177	12/29/2023	Illinois State	W 96-70
201	12/9/2023	Penn (Neutral)	W 81-66
221	3/6/2024	Vanderbilt
252	11/24/2023	Marshall	W 118-82
286	11/6/2023	New Mexico State	W 86-46
330	11/10/2023	Texas A&M-Commerce	W 81-61
357	11/17/2023	Stonehill	W 101-67

Team Sheet Notes

— There was significant shuffling on Kentucky’s team sheet this week. As mentioned, Mississippi State fell to No. 32 in the NET, which dropped the win over the Bulldogs in Rupp Arena to Quad 2. The loss to Florida in Lexington is also on the cusp of Quad 1, as the Gators are No. 33 in the NET. A strong finish by both of those squads would bump those games back to Quad 1. Similarly, Ole Miss is No. 78 in the NET, putting the win over the Rebels in Quad 3; if they finish No. 75 or higher, that win will slide back to Quad 2.

— Kentucky’s 5-5 record in Quad 1 is decent, but the Selection Committee also breaks down Quad 1 into two parts to really dissect teams’ resumes. All five of Kentucky’s wins are in Quad 1A, which is impressive. The only losses in Quad 1A are to Tennessee at home and Kansas in the Champions Classic.

— The loss to UNC Wilmington is holding steady in Quad 3, which is good. Quad 4 losses are resume busters, which is another reason Kentucky needs to take care of business Wednesday vs. Vanderbilt.

— Kentucky is currently trending as a No. 4 or No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Here’s how the Cats’ resume stacks up to others around them, courtesy of Bracketologists:

The Road Ahead

As mentioned, Saturday’s game vs. Tennessee is the biggest one left, sitting atop Quad 1. Wednesday’s game vs. Vanderbilt is in Quad 4, proof of just how bad the Commodores have been this season. Can’t lose that one.

Date	Opponent	NET	Quad
3/6/2024	Vanderbilt	221	Quad 4
3/9/2024	at Tennessee	5	Quad 1