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LEXINGTON — Despite dropping three straight games for the first time since Mark Pope became coach, Kentucky basketball's projected NCAA Tournament seed hasn't cratered.
But it is trending downward.
On Feb. 18, Bracket Matrix had UK's average seed as 6.57. Less than a week later, the Wildcats' average seed has fallen to 7.11.
Prior to Tuesday's win over South Carolina, Kentucky's NET ranking was 29, up one spot from the previous week.
Bracketologists.com, which fills out its bracket based only on NET rankings, updated its projections Feb. 23 and slotted Kentucky as an 8-seed, setting up a rematch with border state rival (and ninth-seeded) Indiana. Bracketville released its newest bracket Feb. 24 and tabbed UK as the East Region's 7-seed. The site projects Kentucky will travel to St. Louis to square off with No. 10 seed Saint Mary's.
Here's a look at Kentucky's NCAA Tournament résumé as of Feb. 24, as well as projections from a variety of national outlets:
NET ranking: 29
KenPom ranking: 31
Quad 1 record: 5-8
Quad 2 record: 3-2
Quad 3 record: 3-0
Quad 4 record: 6-0
ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi put out a new bracket Feb. 24. He projects the Wildcats will be an 8-seed in the South Region. Lunardi has Kentucky heading to Philadelphia to clash with ninth-seeded Clemson.
CBS Sports released its latest projections Feb. 24. CBS has UK in the West Region as the 7-seed, taking on 10-seed (and fellow blue blood) UCLA in the first round.
Joe Rexrode, a senior writer for The Athletic, published a bracket for the site that went live Feb. 24. Rexrode listed Kentucky as the Midwest Region's 8-seed, facing No. 9-seed Clemson in the first round in Buffalo, New York.
Andy Katz, a college basketball analyst for NCAA.com, released his newest projections Feb. 24. He placed UK in the South Region as a 7-seed. He predicts Kentucky will battle 10th-seeded UCLA.
After Tuesday's victory against South Carolina (a Quad 2 result for the Cats), UK has nothing but Quad 1 opportunities remaining for the rest of the regular season.
That starts with a matchup against Vanderbilt at Rupp Arena at 2 p.m. Saturday. The Commodores won the first meeting this season in lopsided fashion, rolling to an 80-55 triumph in Nashville last month.
Then, on March 3, Kentucky hits the road for the final time in the 2025-26 regular season, trekking to the Lone Star State to tangle with Texas A&M.
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky basketball March Madness projections, UK NCAA Tournament
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But it is trending downward.
On Feb. 18, Bracket Matrix had UK's average seed as 6.57. Less than a week later, the Wildcats' average seed has fallen to 7.11.
Prior to Tuesday's win over South Carolina, Kentucky's NET ranking was 29, up one spot from the previous week.
Bracketologists.com, which fills out its bracket based only on NET rankings, updated its projections Feb. 23 and slotted Kentucky as an 8-seed, setting up a rematch with border state rival (and ninth-seeded) Indiana. Bracketville released its newest bracket Feb. 24 and tabbed UK as the East Region's 7-seed. The site projects Kentucky will travel to St. Louis to square off with No. 10 seed Saint Mary's.
Here's a look at Kentucky's NCAA Tournament résumé as of Feb. 24, as well as projections from a variety of national outlets:
Kentucky basketball's resume, NET ranking
NET ranking: 29
KenPom ranking: 31
Quad 1 record: 5-8
Quad 2 record: 3-2
Quad 3 record: 3-0
Quad 4 record: 6-0
Where ESPN projects Kentucky basketball in NCAA Tournament
ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi put out a new bracket Feb. 24. He projects the Wildcats will be an 8-seed in the South Region. Lunardi has Kentucky heading to Philadelphia to clash with ninth-seeded Clemson.
CBS Sports Kentucky basketball bracketology for NCAA Tournament
CBS Sports released its latest projections Feb. 24. CBS has UK in the West Region as the 7-seed, taking on 10-seed (and fellow blue blood) UCLA in the first round.
The Athletic bracketology for UK basketball
Joe Rexrode, a senior writer for The Athletic, published a bracket for the site that went live Feb. 24. Rexrode listed Kentucky as the Midwest Region's 8-seed, facing No. 9-seed Clemson in the first round in Buffalo, New York.
Kentucky basketball bracketology from NCAA.com
Andy Katz, a college basketball analyst for NCAA.com, released his newest projections Feb. 24. He placed UK in the South Region as a 7-seed. He predicts Kentucky will battle 10th-seeded UCLA.
What's next for Kentucky basketball
After Tuesday's victory against South Carolina (a Quad 2 result for the Cats), UK has nothing but Quad 1 opportunities remaining for the rest of the regular season.
That starts with a matchup against Vanderbilt at Rupp Arena at 2 p.m. Saturday. The Commodores won the first meeting this season in lopsided fashion, rolling to an 80-55 triumph in Nashville last month.
Then, on March 3, Kentucky hits the road for the final time in the 2025-26 regular season, trekking to the Lone Star State to tangle with Texas A&M.
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky basketball March Madness projections, UK NCAA Tournament
Continue reading...
