How Kentucky's SEC Tournament path could impact its NCAA Tournament resume

Kentucky wrapped up the regular season in spectacular fashion. The win over Tennessee is the most impressive of the year, sitting atop Quad 1. Kentucky now has wins over four teams in the top ten of the NET Rankings, more than any team in the country. Two of those (Tennessee and Auburn) came on the road, making them even more valuable on the Cats’ NCAA Tournament resume.

With the victory over the Vols, Kentucky is up to No. 19 in the NET Rankings and trending as a No. 3 seed in Bracketology. The Cats are 6-5 in Quad 1 games, five of those victories coming in the top half of the Quad, aka Quad 1A. Kentucky is still one of only five teams in the NET top 20 with a Quad 3 loss — to UNC Wilmington — but having that many quality wins helps offset the December misstep at Rupp.

Kentucky can add more quality wins with a strong run in the SEC Tournament. With less than a week 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: 6-5
  • Quad 1A: 5-2
  • Quad 1B: 1-3
• Quad 2: 2-2
  • Quad 2A: 1-2
  • Quad 2B: 1-0
• Quad 3: 8-1
• Quad 4: 7-0

Quad 1: 6-5

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

QUAD 1A: Home: 1-15 | Neutral: 1-25 | Away: 1-40
NET	Date	Opponent	Result
5	3/9/2024	at Tennessee	W 85-81
5	02/03/2024	Tennessee	L 92-103
6	02/17/2024	at Auburn	W 70-59
7	12/16/2023	North Carolina (CBS Sports Classic)	W 87-83
8	2/24/2024	Alabama	W 117-95
18	11/14/2023	Kansas (Champions Classic)	L 84-89
35	01/06/2024	at Florida	W 87-85
QUAD 1B: Home 16-30 | Neutral: 26-50 | Away: 41-75
NET	Date	Opponent	Result
16	2/10/2024	Gonzaga	L 85-89
42	02/27/2024	at Mississippi State	W 91-89
46	01/13/2024	at Texas A&M	L 92-97 (1 OT)
49	01/23/2024	at South Carolina	L 62-79

Quad 2: 2-2

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

QUAD 2A: Home 31-55 | Neutral: 51-75 | Away: 76-100
NET	Date	Opponent	Result
35	01/31/2024	Florida	L 91-94 (1 OT)
42	01/17/2024	Mississippi St.	W 90-77
92	02/21/2024	at LSU	L 74-75
QUAD 2B: Home 56-75 | Neutral: 76-100 | Away: 101-135
NET	Date	Opponent	Result
109	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
90	2/13/2024	Ole Miss	W 75-63
97	11/20/2023	Saint Joseph’s	W 96-88 (1 OT)
99	11/28/2023	Miami (FL)	W 95-73
101	01/20/2024	Georgia	W 105-96
109	3/2/2024	Arkansas	W 111-102
118	12/2/2023	UNC Wilmington	L 73-80
156	01/09/2024	Missouri	W 90-77
203	02/06/2024	at Vanderbilt	W 109-77
214	12/21/2023	at Louisville	W 95-76

Quad 4: 7-0

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

NET	Date	Opponent	Result
176	12/29/2023	Illinois State	W 96-70
203	03/06/2024	Vanderbilt	W 93-77
212	12/09/2023	Penn (Neutral)	W 81-66
247	11/24/2023	Marshall	W 118-82
285	11/6/2023	New Mexico State	W 86-46
329	11/10/2023	Texas A&M-Commerce	W 81-61
356	11/17/2023	Stonehill	W 101-67

Kentucky could add THREE Quad 1 wins in Nashville

Kentucky is the No. 2 seed in the SEC Tournament, playing the winner of No. 7 Texas A&M and No. 10 Ole Miss on Friday night. Texas A&M is currently No. 46 in the NET, Ole Miss No. 90. If the Aggies win to face the Cats, Friday night’s quarterfinal game will be in Quad 1; if the Rebels pull off the upset, it will be in Quad 2. A semifinal game vs. either Florida (No. 6 seed, NET 35) or Alabama (No. 3 seed, NET 8) would be in Quad 1, as would the finals assuming it’s Tennessee (No. 1 seed, NET 5), Auburn (No. 2 seed, NET 6), or even Mississippi State (No. 9 seed, NET 42) or South Carolina (No. 5 seed, NET 49).

So, if the right pieces fall into place, Kentucky could add THREE Quad 1 wins to its resume with a SEC Tournament championship, two in Quad 1A. Do that and a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament isn’t out of the question (although the committee typically doesn’t factor in the results of the Sunday championship games).

• FRIDAY: Kentucky vs. Texas A&M (NET 46): Quad 1
• FRIDAY: Kentucky vs. Ole Miss (NET 90): Quad 2
• SATURDAY: Kentucky vs. Alabama (NET 8) or Florida (NET 35): Quad 1
• SUNDAY: Kentucky vs. Tennessee (NET 5), Auburn (NET 6), Mississippi State (NET 42), South Carolina (NET 49): Quad 1

Kentucky’s Quad 1 record could be impacted by other happenings in Bridgestone. Florida is currently No. 35 in the NET, which puts the loss to the Gators in Rupp in Quad 2. Mississippi State is No. 42 in the NET, so the win over the Bulldogs in Lexington is also in Quad 2. If either or both teams go on a run and climb into the NET Top 30, those games will move back to Quad 1. Mississippi State plays LSU in the first game on Thursday for the chance to face No. 1 Tennessee. Florida plays the winner of No. 14 Missouri and No. 11 Georgia on Thursday night. The winner takes on No. 3 Alabama on Friday night.

It’s there for the taking. Just keep winning.