The Kentucky Wildcats have exceeded expectations this season, and with Mark Pope running a tight ship, there’s hope for a deep March Madness run for the first time since 2019.
With a top-15 ranking throughout the major rankings, Kentucky could end up with a high seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament, although there’s obviously still the bulk of the season remaining.
If the season were to end today, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi has the Cats taking on Lipscomb in the first round of his latest Bracketology. Kentucky is ranked as the 2-seed in the West Region, a grouping that Gonzaga spearheads. Baylor and Oregon are in the region as well.
Who else is in it? None other than Arkansas, which has slipped in the rankings and comes in as a 10-seed. The Hogs would face 7-seeded Texas Tech, then potentially face the Cats in the Round of 32.
One can view the rest of the bracket here.
Elsewhere, Kentucky’s odds to win the national championship are now at +2000 at FanDuel Sportsbook. Those are tied for the ninth-best odds after Kentucky wasn’t even in the top 10 when the season started.
While that might not seem like a big change, it shows confidence in this Kentucky team. Auburn has the highest odds, with the Cats just below the Tennessee Volunteers, who are at +1700.
Enjoy this ride. It’s been a fun one thus far and has the potential to turn into a special one as the season progresses.