Bracketology: ESPN’s latest projection favors Kentucky basketball
By Drew Koch
ESPN’s Joe Lunardi’s latest NCAA projection has the Kentucky basketball team as a No. 8 seed in the Midwest. Believe it or not, this could be a blessing in disguise for the Wildcats.
ESPN’s Joe Lunardi has put out his latest version of Bracketology. ‘Joey Brackets’ has the Kentucky basketball team as a No. 8 seed in the Midwest. Now, while Big Blue Nation would frown at the notion of their perennial powerhouse program being part of a No. 8 versus No. 9 match up, this year’s UK squad could benefit tremendously from a lower seed.
Okay, by now, Big Blue Nation has come to the realization that this year’s Kentucky basketball team is different. This isn’t 2010 with John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins. There’s not 10 potential Division-1 starters and a platoon-system like 2015. This year’s team is young, inexperienced and has been taking their lumps lately.
While I don’t envision a scenario in which the Cats are on the outside of the NCAA Tournament looking in, I don’t see a team that will be any higher than a No. 4 seed, and that’s only if they run the table. So, more than likely Kentucky will be sitting in that No. 6 to No. 9 range come Selection Sunday.
We’ve seen already this season that lofty expectations do not favor this year’s Kentucky basketball team. However, if the West Virginia game is any indicator, being an underdog might be the ticket to a deep run for this squad.
If Lundari’s current projection holds to form, the Cats would play Florida State in Round 1. Both the Seminoles and the Wildcats are two teams heading in the same direction. I think Kentucky can handle the Noles. Following Round 1, the Wildcats would likely face Xavier. Could the Wildcats recapture some of that 2013 magic that helped them defeat that year’s No. 1 Wichita State.
We’ll find out where the Cats officially begin their march toward a championship on March 11th. There is no doubt that Big Blue Nation has their doubts about this Kentucky basketball team, but come March, Cal is usually able to get the best out of his young teams.