Kentucky WBB among "First Four Out" in preseason Bracketology

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On3 image — Photo by Eddie Justice | UK Athletics

Kyra Elzy is ushering Kentucky women’s basketball into a new era as she enters year three as head coach.

10 new faces — six rookies and four transfers — have joined the roster after the program saw arguably its all-time greatest player, Rhyne Howard, head to the WNBA as the No. 1 overall pick. Kentucky is coming off a hectic 2021-22 season that had plenty of downs, but much better ups. Following a 9-11 start to the season, the Wildcats rattled off 10 consecutive victories and won the 2022 SEC Tournament against eventual national champion South Carolina.

But with so much turnover looking ahead to the 2022-23 season, Kentucky is facing plenty of uncertainty. So much so that ESPN women’s basketball Bracketologist Charlie Creme has the ‘Cats on the outside looking in of the 2023 NCAA Tournament. On Tuesday morning, Creme updated his 2023 Bracketology and listed UK as one of the “First Four Out” to miss the field.

We're back with an updated Bracketology. And there's change on the No. 1 line.

Full projection: https://t.co/svy4XQzqhk pic.twitter.com/OtqQxrvyN9
— ESPN Women's Hoops (@ESPN_WomenHoop) October 4, 2022

Despite Kentucky not making Creme’s 68-team preseason field, nine SEC programs did make the cut, the most of any conference. The ACC is right behind with eight while the Pac-12 comes in next with seven. Mississippi State is also included in the “First Four Out” while Florida and Missouri are among the “Last Four In”.

Tennessee and defending champion South Carolina are slotted as one-seeds, with the Gamecocks as the top overall seed. UK will play USC and UT a total of three times during the regular season. In-state rival Louisville, who comes to Lexington in December for a matchup at Rupp Arena, is a three-seed. Texas and Stanford are the other No. 1 seeds.

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In a slight change to the tournament bracket, this year’s field will feature just two regional sites instead of the usual four. Greenville, SC and Seattle, WA will host the Sweet 16 and beyond.

Below is Kentucky’s entire 2022-23 schedule. The ‘Cats will play 10 games on national TV, one on ESPN and nine on the SEC Network.