LEXINGTON — Kentucky basketball is trending upward in NCAA Tournament projections.
On the heels of a five-game SEC win streak, UK’s seed line is improving. As of Jan. 21, Bracket Matrix had the Wildcats‘ slotted with an average seed of 8.29. A week later, Kentucky‘s average has risen by a full seed in the site’s projections, sitting at 7.22, appearing in 95 of the 96 brackets collected by Bracket Matrix.
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After a lopsided 80-55 road win loss at Vanderbilt on Tuesday, Kentucky and coach Mark Pope are 14-7 overall, with a 5-3 record versus conference foes.
Prior to Tuesday’s defeat, Kentucky’s NET ranking was 29.
Bracketville updated its bracket Jan. 27 and tabbed UK as the No. 6 seed in the Midwest Region, projecting Pope’s group to head to Oklahoma City to face 11-seed Miami of Ohio in the first round. Bracketologists.com, which bases its bracket only on NET rankings and released its newest prognostications Jan. 26, had Kentucky as an 8-seed, meeting ninth-seeded Miami (Florida).
Here’s a look at Kentucky’s NCAA Tournament résumé as of Jan. 27, as well as projections from a variety of national outlets:
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Kentucky basketball’s resume, NET ranking
NET ranking: 29
KenPom ranking: 28
Quad 1 record: 3-5
Quad 2 record: 2-1
Quad 3 record: 2-0
Quad 4 record: 7-0
Where ESPN projects Kentucky basketball in NCAA Tournament
ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi released his newest update Jan. 27. He has UK as the No. 7 seed in the Midwest Region, traveling across state lines to St. Louis to wrestle with 10-seed Wisconsin.
CBS Sports Kentucky basketball bracketology for NCAA Tournament
CBS Sports published its latest bracket Jan. 27. The site placed Kentucky as the 7-seed in the West Region, clashing with No. 10 seed Virginia Tech in the first round.
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The Athletic bracketology for UK basketball
Joe Rexrode, a senior writer for The Athletic, penned a bracket forecast for the site Jan. 27. Rexrode projected the Wildcats as East Region’s 6-seed. He predicts Kentucky will face Miami of Ohio in the first round in Oklahoma City.
Kentucky basketball bracketology from NCAA.com
Andy Katz, a college basketball analyst for NCAA.com, unveiled his newest bracket Jan. 27. He has UK as the 7-seed in the East Region, squaring off with 10th-seeded Saint Mary’s.
Where The Washington Post projects Kentucky Wildcats in NCAA Tournament
In a bracketology analysis for The Washington Post on Jan. 27, Patrick Stevens slotted UK into the South Region. In Stevens’ estimation, Kentucky will make the westward trek to San Diego as a 6-seed, facing the winner of a First Four bout between a pair of 11-seeds: Miami of Ohio and Utah State.
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What’s next for Kentucky basketball
Last time out, Kentucky earned a Quad 1 win/suffered a Quad 1 setback at Vanderbilt on Tuesday. But UK has no time to rest. It faces Arkansas and former coach John Calipari at Bud Walton Arena, with tipoff time set for 6:30 p.m ET Saturday. It will be a Quad 1 opportunity for both the Wildcats and Razorbacks.
UK then has a pair of home matchups next week: Oklahoma (9 p.m. Feb. 4) and Tennessee (8:30 p.m. Feb. 7.)
As of Jan. 27, the Sooners would be a Quad 2 contest for the Cats, while the Volunteers are a Quad 1 foe.
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky NCAA Tournament projections, UK in March Madness bracketology
