NCAA Tournament projections for Kentucky basketball ahead of today's Selection Sunday show

Ryan Black, Louisville Courier Journal
·2 min read
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The Kentucky men's basketball team's stay in the SEC Tournament was a short one.

In its first, and only, game of during the event, third-seeded Kentucky fell to No. 6 seed Vanderbilt by seven points Friday night in a quarterfinal matchup at Bridgestone Arena.

Now, the Wildcats (21-11) turn their attention to the NCAA Tournament. The 68-team field will be announced Sunday.

Kentucky is 26th in the NET rankings, a five-spot tumble following Friday's loss. But UK owns six Quad 1 victories — the games most critical in determining a team's NCAA Tournament worthiness. Its most recent Quad 1 win came last week in the regular-season finale: an 88-79 triumph over Arkansas at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Bracketologists.com, which uses only the NET rankings to predict the NCAA Tournament field, has Kentucky as a No. 7 seed. BracketWAG.com, which released its latest projections Saturday night, has the Wildcats as the No. 6 seed in the South Region. Bracketmatrix.com projects the Wildcats' average seed as 6.39, appearing in all 110 of its brackets.

More on Friday's loss:Kentucky basketball falls to Vanderbilt in SEC Tournament, now awaits NCAA tourney seeding

Here's a look at where national experts are predicting the Wildcats to land after Friday's one-and-done appearance in the conference tournament:

Mar 4, 2023; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Antonio Reeves (12) shoots the ball against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the first half at Bud Walton Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2023; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Antonio Reeves (12) shoots the ball against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the first half at Bud Walton Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

NCAA Tournament projections for Kentucky from ESPN

Joe Lunardi, ESPN's bracketology expert, released his latest projection Sunday morning. He has Kentucky as a 7-seed in the West Region.

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CBS Sports' NCAA Tournament projections for UK basketball

CBS Sports senior writer Jerry Palm unveiled his newest bracket Saturday morning. He also projects the Wildcats as the 7-seed in the West Region.

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Kentucky NCAA Tournament projections from The Athletic

The Athletic's most recent projected bracket, released Sunday morning, has UK as the No. 6 seed in the East Region.

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Kentucky forward Oscar Tshiebwe was recognized on senior night before the Wildcats' final home game. The Wildcats fell to Vanderbilt 68-66 Wednesday night at Rupp Arena. March 1, 2023
Kentucky forward Oscar Tshiebwe was recognized on senior night before the Wildcats' final home game. The Wildcats fell to Vanderbilt 68-66 Wednesday night at Rupp Arena. March 1, 2023

What's next for the Kentucky Wildcats?

Selection Sunday is the only thing in front of Kentucky now, as the team waits to learn where, and who, it will play next week in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @RyanABlack.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky's NCAA Tournament projections after 2023 SEC Tournament exit

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