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Kentucky Wildcats Basketball: Tournament Time Hot Takes

By Brian Smith

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It’s conference tournament week and the NCAA Tournament Field of  68 will be released in just a few days. So, as we enter the last few weeks of the college basketball season, it’s time for Tournament Hot Takes.  As expected, the majority will concern our Kentucky Wildcats basketball team.

1. If Kentucky is going to struggle in the SEC Tournament, I expect it will be tomorrow during their opening game in the SEC Tournament Quarterfinals. But, only if they’re playing Florida. Once they get past the Gators, this team isn’t losing in the semi-finals or the championship game. Not in Nashville. Not this year.

2. If Kentucky wins on Sunday, they will finish the season 40-0. No one is beating them in the NCAA Tournament. I firmly believe it.

3. That being said, Kentucky will have one of the harder path’s to a championship. I’ve said this quite a few times now but it’s worth repeating again (and again, and again, and again): the Selection Committee will do the Wildcats no favors. Obviously, geography is a major factor but I do think there is a bit of “Let’s see just how good this team is” thinking out there.

4. This is also worth repeating again and again and again: When geographic considerations are more important than competitive balance, there is something incredibly wrong with how the tournament is being selected and seeded.

5. The Big XII has been considered the best conference all year long. But, I’ll publicly state that Butler will win more NCAA Tournament games than any Big XII team. I’m not sold on the Big XII; I think it’s a perception issue of being a strong league.

6. Other NCAA Tournament predictions: North Carolina doesn’t advance past the Sweet 16, Villanova is the first #1-seed to lose, and UofL makes a surprising run to the Elite 8.

7. Murray State will not be in the NCAA Tournament and they don’t deserve a bid. Winning 27 games is impressive; going through their conference undefeated was impressive; but they played NO ONE out of conference of any significance. As an alum of a mid-major school, I understand how difficult it is to schedule decent schools. But, Murray has to do better than Alabama A&M and Alcorn State. When you look at their wins/losses, the only win of any note is Western Kentucky.

8. When all is said and done, and the tournament is over and the season has ended, I believe there will be a couple of guys who stick around for another year, surprising folks by doing so, and a couple of guys who leave early, surprising folks by doing so.

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