Kentucky's SEC Tournament Scenarios With 4 Games Left

MrsTylerKSR

kentucky-sec-tournament-seed-scenarios-texas-am-tennessee — Photo by Dr. Michael Huang | Kentucky Sports Radio

Depending on how the season ends, Kentucky could end up with anywhere from the No. 2 seed to the No. 10 seed in the SEC Tournament. Thankfully, the Cats’ wins last week make the double bye (top four seeds) likely, but almost any slipup could result in the Cats playing on Thursday, not Friday.

Wildly enough, tonight’s Tennessee vs. Texas A&M game has big implications for Kentucky’s SEC Tournament seed. The No. 25 Aggies host the No. 11 Volunteers in Reed Arena at 7 p.m. ET, a matchup you can see on ESPN. Since Kentucky beat both squads, the Cats have the tiebreaker should they find themselves together in the standings at the end of the season.

Before we dig into the nitty gritty of Kentucky’s SEC Tournament scenarios, here’s a look at the current standings:

SEC Standings – Feb. 21

TEAM	CONFERENCE	GAMES BACK	OVERALL
Alabama	13-1	–	23-4
Texas A&M	12-2	1	20-7
Tennessee	9-5	4	20-7
Kentucky	9-5	4	18-9
Auburn	8-6	5	18-9
Vanderbilt	8-6	5	15-12
Missouri	7-7	6	19-8
Arkansas	7-7	6	18-9
Florida	7-7	6	14-13
Mississippi State	6-8	7	18-9
Georgia	6-8	7	16-11
South Carolina	3-11	10	10-17
Ole Miss	2-12	11	10-17
LSU	1-13	12	12-15

2023 SEC Tournament Bracket

Go 4-0: No. 2 or No. 3 seed

If Kentucky runs the table, they’re in line for either the No. 2 or No. 3 seed in the SEC Tournament. Whether or not the Cats can get the No. 2 seed will depend on Texas A&M.

Right now, the Aggies have a three-game lead over Kentucky and Tennessee in the standings. They play Tennessee (home) tonight, Mississippi State (away) on Saturday, Ole Miss (Away) next Tuesday, and Alabama (home) to end the regular season. If they go 1-3 in that stretch, the only win being over Ole Miss, and Kentucky and Tennessee win out, the Aggies, the Cats, and the Vols will be tied in the standings at 13-5. Kentucky would own the tiebreaker, clinching the No. 2 seed in the tournament.

If Texas A&M beats Tennessee tonight and Kentucky wins out, the Aggies will stay at least one game ahead of the Cats in the standings and Kentucky will be the No. 3 seed.

Go 3-1: No. 3 or No. 4 seed

If Kentucky loses one more game, Texas A&M beats Tennessee tonight, and the Vols win the other three games left on their schedule, the Cats and the Vols would be tied in the standings at 12-6. Kentucky owns the tiebreaker and would be the No. 3 seed in Nashville. The Cats would still be the No. 3 seed in that scenario if Tennessee loses to Arkansas or Auburn.

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If Kentucky loses one more game, Tennessee beats Texas A&M tonight and the Aggies lose to Mississippi State and/or Alabama, Kentucky will be the No. 4 seed.

Go 2-2: No. 5 seed

If Kentucky finishes the season 2-2, the Cats will almost certainly fall into a tie with Missouri for fourth in the standings. The Tigers own the tiebreaker and Kentucky would end up with the No. 5 seed, which means playing the winner of the No. 12/No. 13 game on Thursday afternoon. The winner draws the No. 4 seed, so, again, probably Missouri.

Go 1-3: No. 6 or No. 7 seed

How do you like the Thursday night session at the SEC Tournament? Because that’s where Kentucky will likely end up if they only win one more game.

Go 0-4: No. 10 seed

At least it wouldn’t be on Wednesday?

With just over two weeks until the SEC Tournament, there are a LOT of variables still in play, starting tonight with Tennessee vs. Texas A&M. Who’s watching with me?