Kentucky is near lock to play Thursday at SEC Tournament

Kentucky’s season is quickly slipping away. After the fourth loss of the season at Rupp Arena on Saturday, the NCAA Tournament resume is beginning to look fairly mediocre. The Wildcats are lacking marquee wins and the loss to UNC Wilmington remains a stain on the resume. John Calipari’s team must get things turned around quickly or this team could find itself firmly on the bubble.

Where Kentucky stands in the NCAA Tournament picture will have most of everyone’s attention, but the SEC Tournament picture also got darker for Kentucky after Florida and Texas A&M each recorded upset wins at home on Saturday. Each team in the league has now played at least 10 games and things currently do not look promising for Kentucky.

The Wildcats currently find themselves in a fifth-place tie behind Alabama (9-2), South Carolina (9-2), Auburn (8-3), and Tennessee (7-3). Joining the Wildcats at 6-4 is Florida and Texas A&M. The Aggies own the head-to-head tiebreaker against Kentucky due to a win at Reed Arena.

With over 50 percent of the season done, KenPom’s schedule projections now start to hold more weight. Kentucky is currently scheduled to finish in the No. 7 spot in SEC Tournament seeding.

1. Alabama (14-4)
2. Tennessee (13-5)
3. Auburn (13-5)
4. South Carolina (12-6)
5. Florida (11-7)
6. Texas A&M (10-8)
7. Kentucky (10-8)
8. Mississippi State (9-9)
9. Ole Miss (9-9)
10. LSU (8-10)
11. Georgia (7-11)
12. Arkansas (6-12)
13. Vanderbilt (2-16)
14. Missouri (1-17)

With four road games remaining that include trips to Auburn and Tennessee, things do not look good for the Wildcats. Calipari’s squad will also face Alabama at Rupp Arena. Currently, projections having Kentucky finishing in a 10-8 tie with Texas A&M. That would result in the No. 7 seed due to the head-to-head tiebreaker. The Wildcats are projected to finish two games back of the final double-bye spot.

Tiebreakers are also not looking great for Kentucky at the moment. South Carolina and Texas A&M both own a head-to-head win. Florida split with UK and currently has the best win (Auburn) which would give the Gators the tiebreaker. It is hard to envision Kentucky locking up a double-bye unless the Cats finish 6-2 or better to close SEC play. Even six wins might not get the job done if South Carolina keeps winning.

Be prepared to see the Wildcats play on Thursday at the SEC Tournament for the second time in four years.