KSR Today: We have the bracket, now it's March Madness

March Madness is officially here, Big Blue Nation. Yesterday, Kentucky forgot all about its early exit from the SEC Tournament, earning an ideal seed and playing location in the NCAA Tournament field. Today, we continue to preview the road ahead as the Cats get ready to play for #9 with a first-round game on Thursday.

Kentucky is the South’s No. 3 seed

Kentucky was one of the big winners on Selection Sunday, earning a No. 3 seed in the South Region, playing first and second-round games in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Wildcats drew Oakland University, the Horizon League Tournament champion, in the opening game, set for a 7:10 p.m. tip on Thursday. Win that one, and Kentucky will advance to play Texas Tech or N.C. State for a spot in the Sweet Sixteen. The Big Blue Nation has no reason to complain about the draw. John Calipari and his team also liked their place in the bracket.

The 2024 NCAA Tournament bracket

Sign up for On3’s Bracket Challenge

You’re going to fill out several online brackets, so why not make On3’s Bracket Challenge one of your bracket pools? There are prizes for KSR readers and the overall On3 contest:

KSR LEADERBOARD
– 1st place: $50 gift card to Kentucky Branded and a gift basket from Raising Cane’s
– 2nd place: $25 gift card to Kentucky Branded and a gift basket from Raising Cane’s
OVERALL On3 LEADERBOARD
– 1st place: 75-inch 4K Smart TV and 1-year comped subscription to On3
– 2nd place: 1-year comped subscription to On3
– 3rd place: 6-month comped subscription to On3

Sign up here to get started.

More from Selection Sunday:

• What pressure? Coach Cal takes Kentucky bowling before dancing: “We’re built for March. Let’s go prove it.”
• John Calipari goes ‘way back’ with Oakland HC Greg Kampe: ‘He’s a great coach.’
• Get to know the Oakland Golden Grizzlies, Kentucky’s first-round NCAA opponent
• LIVE: KSR Rapidly Reacts to Kentucky’s 2024 NCAA Tournament draw
• Kentucky vs. Oakland NCAA Tournament 1st Round Odds Released
• CBS analyst Clark Kellogg picks Kentucky to make Final Four
• Dick Vitale picks Kentucky to win the national championship

Not Tweet of the Day

Moments after the Selection Show revealed the tournament field, @CBBAnalytics noted that Oakland’s Jack Gohlke leads all 68 March Madness teams in 3-pointers made. Great.

The top 3-point shooters (by makes) of the 68 March Madness teams:

1. Jack Gohlke, Oakland
2. Reyne Smith, Charleston
3. RJ Davis, UNC
4. Josh Hubbard, Miss St.
5. LJ Cryer, Houston
6. Baylor Scheirman, Creighton
7. Joseph Girard III, Clemson

Rest of list… 👇 pic.twitter.com/lgsXaQGMzm

— CBB Analytics (@CBBAnalytics) March 18, 2024

KHSAA Sweet 16 begins Wednesday

Later this week, another bracket will determine a champion in the 2024 UK Health Care Boys’ Basketball Sweet 16. Magoffin County and Perry County Central will lead off the field in the 11 a.m. game on Wednesday, March 20.

Travis Perry named Kentucky Mr. Basketball

Before Travis Perry plays in his last Sweet 16, the Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation and Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches named him Kentucky Mr. Basketball on Sunday in Lexington. Pikeville’s Trinity Rowe, a Southern Miss commit, won the Miss Basketball award for 2024.

[Travis Perry, Trinity Rowe take home top honor as Kentucky Mr. and Miss Basketball winners]

Spring football begins tomorrow

While we focus on March Madness, Kentucky Football begins spring practice tomorrow in Lexington. After Tuesday’s first practice, we’ll hear from Mark Stoops, then weekly conversations with Stoops, Brad White, Bush Hamdan, and several players leading up to the Blue-White scrimmage on Saturday, April 13.

Tune in to KSR

We’re live at 10 a.m. to recap Nashville and Selection Sunday before tomorrow’s show in Louisville at the Tuesday marathon. Tune in and Go Cats.