Pat Forde says Kentucky is actually 30th-best team in March Madness field

Kentucky tied college basketball’s all-time record for most top-15 wins in a single season with eight, putting together a resume that included 11 Quad 1 victories, tied for fourth nationally. That’s while losing zero Quad 3 or 4 games with just one Quad 2 loss, seven other teams ahead of the Wildcats in the NET also having at least one Quad 2 defeat. There is a reason the NCAA gave Mark Pope’s team a No. 3 seed as the No. 11 overall team in the field.

Don’t let Pat Forde hear that, though. The Sports Illustrated columnist released his 1-68 ranking of the entire March Madness field this week and listed Kentucky at No. 30 overall.

Thirty. Three-zero.

That’s the equivalent of a No. 8 seed, for those curious.

“This is a battered team, down three guards from the start of the season but hoping Lamont Butler can get back into the lineup this week,” Forde said, ignoring the countless confirmations that Kentucky’s starting point guard is healthy. “They’re 7–6 in February and March, giving up an average of 93 points in those six losses.

“Mark Pope has done a phenomenal job hitting high points this season—beating Duke, Gonzaga, Louisville, Florida, Missouri and Tennessee twice—but there might not be much left in the tank. Kentucky could get on a shooting roll and make a run, or its defensive and rebounding lapses could lead to an early exit.”

When walking through Kentucky’s ceiling, its best-case scenario is an Elite Eight loss to Houston in Indianapolis next weekend.

The Cats could win a second-round track meet with Illinois, beat Tennessee for the third time and find themselves in a regional final against Houston,” he wrote. “That probably wouldn’t end well, but it would be a lot better than losing to Oakland or Saint Peter’s.”

The nightmare scenario?

“Pope remains winless as an NCAA tourney coach with a first-round loss to Troy,” Forde said. “Meanwhile, Calipari and Louisville both go on Final Four runs.”

Going through his complete list, Kentucky has wins this season over his No. 1 (Florida), No. 2 (Duke), No. 7 (Tennessee, twice), No. 15 (Texas A&M), No. 17 (Louisville), No. 20 (Missouri) and No. 25 (Gonzaga) teams in the field.

Folks, Forde has UC San Diego ranked ahead of the Cats. Good team — all 68 teams in the field are good, no disrespect to anyone set to compete this week — but what about the Tritons’ resume suggests they belong ahead on any list? THEY HAVE TWO QUAD 3 LOSSES, PAT. THEIR BEST WINS ARE AT UTAH STATE AND UC IRVINE!

Interestingly enough, Louisville was the No. 29 overall team in the NCAA’s official seed list released on Selection Sunday. Is this part of the week-long temper tantrum Cardinal fans are throwing because they earned a No. 8 seed?

Whatever makes you sleep better at night. Leave Kentucky out of the field completely next time, Pat. It’ll mean just as much as this list.