Kentucky Basketball: Bracketology 101

As this season heads toward the final stretch run, there figures to be little drama to NCAA Selection Sunday for the University of Kentucky Wildcats. Currently at sitting at 26-0, the season would have to take a very unlikely turn for Coach John Calipari and his guys to not end up as one of number one seeds, if not the overall number one seed for tourney. The only real chance at drama will the the story lines that arise from the matchups on the Cats path to the Final Four.

Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

As he does every February, ESPN’s resident Bracketologist, Joe Lunardi, starts to fill out his predictions for the 68 team field. For the most part, Lunardi has been fairly accurate, especially when it comes to the teams that make the field and their seeds.  Currently, he has Kentucky as the number one overall seed in the Midwest region. That would put the Cats in Louisville to start their journey, heading through Cleveland and hopefully ending at the Final Four in Indianapolis.

When you look closely, you see that the four seed in that proposed Midwest region is none other than the Louisville Cardinals. Obviously, things are still premature, but there’s little doubt in my mind that the Cats will be set up to play the Cards at some point. As they’ve done for the last few years, the NCAA pulled sportswriters from all over the country to put together a mock bracket to show how difficult it is to choose 68 teams and properly seed them. It’s all done in an effort to be transparent an to show that there’s no intent behind the selections beyond building the best bracket possible.

But, as ESPN’s Lee Corso is wont to say, “Not so fast my friend.”

Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

As what happened last year, we see that there are matchups that get created by the setup of the bracket that are clearly made with more than just pure, “for the love of the game” motivations. The Wildcats, woefully underseeded at 8, to matchup with the Wichita State Shockers in the second round, putting the undefeated team against the team that had all the preseason undefeated talk? And putting the Cards in the Cats in the same region on the chance those two teams meet? I’m no conspiracy theorist, but there are too many occurrences that happen in the Tournament that seem made for TV.

Granted, if the Cats enter the Big Dance undefeated, they will be a huge TV draw for everyone. They will be the story of the tournament. Even if they drop a game or two, they will still be the odds on favorite to capture the school’s ninth title. And, in the end, it won’t matter who they’ve played and beaten when “One Shining Moment” is playing and the confetti falling down on Coach Cal as he’s hoisting the trophy in the air.

As it is, the NCAA Tournament is as close to a perfect way of choosing a champion as we have in sports. And the first Thursday and Friday should be national holidays. The NCAA Tournament sells itself. There’s no need to manufacture any false drama, just let the players and coaches create the highlights, the lowlights and the storylines. And while it’s fun to talk about who’s playing where and whom, once the ball is tipped, it’s all about winning and advancing. And the Cats look like they’re ready to do just that.