SEC Tournament Preview: Kentucky must get hot in Hoover

Memorial Day weekend is just a few short days away as many folks are getting things planned for the first three-day weekend of the summer. In college baseball, this week is home to one of the best events of the year as the Southeastern Conference makes its way towards The Hoover Met.

There are 12 teams — minus Missouri and Mississippi State — who have qualified for this year’s conference tournament with more than a few who are potential College World Series contenders. Postseason baseball action is intense, and things should get pretty festive in Metro Birmingham.

KSR is here to help folks get ready for the big even as Nick Mingione’s sixth team looks to get onto the NCAA Tournament bubble.

The Bracket

Yeah, this is not the SEC Tournament bracket. During the nearly week-long event, things get interesting as the tournament shifts from single elimination to double elimination and back to single elimination. The champion will be crowned in a winner take all game on Sunday. The conference tournament is a little different from what you’re used to seeing in the NCAA Tournament.

Only the top four teams are guaranteed spots in the tournament. The other eight teams are placed in play-in games that will take place throughout the day on Tuesday. Kentucky will be in the nightcap on Tuesday facing an Auburn team the Bat Cats just took two of three from at Kentucky Proud Park. The first pitch is scheduled to be around 9:00 p.m. ET., but could change depending on how long Vanderbilt-Ole Miss lasts.

After the play-in games are complete, the tournament is whittled down the eight teams and split into two different pods. Each pod is then a double-elimination format with the winner moving onto the championship game. However, once the pod is down to just two teams it then moves to a single-elimination format for the semifinals on Saturday. A team could conceivably lose just one after starting 2-0 in pod play and still not make it to the championship.

A win would give Kentucky a favorable matchup against LSU, but being placed in the same pod as No. 1 Tennessee would be tricky to get out of.

All games will be broadcast on SEC Network before the championship game moves over to ESPN2 on Sunday.

Kentucky needs multiple wins to get an at-large bid

Entering the week, Kentucky sits at 30-24 (12-18) with an RPI of No. 54. That puts the Wildcats firmly on the outside looking in as postseason play begins this week.

The Wildcats have a solid 9-10 record in games against top-25 RPI teams, but four losses to sub-100 competition are not helping matters. Add in a non-conference strength of schedule at No. 170, and it’s easy to understand why Mingione’s club has some work to do heading into the SEC Tournament.

To start the tournament, Kentucky is in a 100 percent win or go home situation against Auburn. Another win over the Tigers would give the Wildcats a solid top-10 RPI win. From there, UK would be placed in a pool with numerous opportunities to record quality wins. Let’s check out the current RPI rankings for potential opponents in pool play:

• 1. Tennessee
• 5. Vanderbilt
• 23. LSU
• 36. Ole Miss

From a resume perspective, Kentucky would be better off if Vanderbilt knocked off Ole Miss on Tuesday night to enter pool play on Wednesday. After collecting another win over Auburn, two more top-25 wins could be enough to get Kentucky into the field by Selection Sunday.

Winning the tournament would end speculation, but Kentucky could feel good about itself if the Bat Cats made it to the semifinals on Saturday. Anything short of that likely won’t be enough.

Tennessee is the heavy favorite

Tony Vitello has quickly built a baseball powerhouse at Tennessee. In just his fifth season on Rocky Top, the Vols are the clear top team in baseball with a 45-7 record and are the overwhelming favorites to win both in Hoover and in Omaha after hosting a regional and super regional in Knoxville.

The Vols lead the country in ERA (2.37), home runs (137), and rank second in total runs (526). Vitello has a juggernaut, and this program has a great shot at bringing home its first-ever national championship.

Texas A&M claimed the SEC West and could be Tennessee’s top competition. Head coach Jim Schlossnagle has led the Aggies to a resurgence in his first year in College Station. After leading TCU to five College World Series appearances, the Aggies have a great chance to get back to Omaha under Schlossnagle for the first time since 2017. The Aggies are looking for their second SEC Tournament title this weekend.

Dave Van Horn is in his 20th season at Arkansas, and the legendary head coach is still looking for his first national championship. The Hogs won 50 games last year with the best team in baseball but were stunned by NC State in the Super Regional. Van Horn did not win an SEC Tournament until last season. The Hogs are a top-10 club in 2022 and could conceivably face Tennessee in the championship. There is no love lost between these two programs.

Let the postseason baseball begin.