Kentucky WBB among "Next Four Out" in ESPN's latest Bracketology

ZGeogheganKSR

On3 image — Photo by Eddie Justice | UK Athletics

Finally healthy and riding a four-game winning streak, Kentucky Women’s Basketball is making one final push for the NCAA Tournament.

On Tuesday morning, ESPN’s Charlie Creme updated his latest Bracketology field where he now has the Wildcats as one of the “Next Four Out”, meaning UK is back on the postseason bubble, but not quite all the way back in. Creme lists Kentucky as the top team of the “Next Four Out”. With just two games remaining on the regular-season schedule, it’s as simple as winning to keep UK’s hopes alive.

Here we go… Kentucky WBB is back on the bubble. ESPN's Charlie Creme has UK as one of the "Next Four Out" as it rides a 4-game win streak.

If UK can win the last 2 games on the schedule, making the Tournament is a real possibility. https://t.co/EnQ4e8LC9r
— Zack Geoghegan (@ZGeogheganKSR) February 22, 2022

Prior to this recent winning streak, which spanned four games in a matter of eight days, Kentucky was a loser in eight of its previous nine outings. A serious lack of depth due to injuries and a Dre’Una Edwards suspension hurt any chance of establishing a rhythm. But once everyone returned, the team began to play up to its preseason standards. Kentucky was able to overcome a 16-point deficit against Mississippi State before smacking Arkansas in its own building on Senior Day two games later.

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All that remains on the schedule are two contests, the first a road matchup against Missouri on Thursday, which will easily be the toughest challenge of the pair. Mizzou is 17-10 on the year and matches Kentucky’s 6-8 record in SEC play. Creme currently has the Tigers listed as a 10-seed in his Bracketology. A win for the ‘Cats might be enough to slide them into the tournament. The season finale against Auburn, the worst team in the conference, should be a smooth Senior Day victory, although not one that would move the needle on the bubble. A loss to Missouri might be it for UK’s chances.

But win those two, and it feels like Kentucky has a more than likely chance of sneaking into the NCAA Tournament. For all the criticism she’s taken this season, Kyra Elzy deserves some flowers. It’s amazing how quickly the outlook of a team and its head coach can change with a little bit of injury luck…