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Kentucky's bracketology climb comes with a Blue Blood warning

Things are looking up in the Bluegrass state, or are they?
ByDrew Holbrook|
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Jan 31, 2026; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope during the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena. Kentucky won 85-77. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images
Jan 31, 2026; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope during the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena. Kentucky won 85-77. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images | Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

As the calendar inches closer to March, bracketology starts to enter more and more of our daily routines. By "our," I of course mean the basketball junkies who sit on the edge of their seats with every win and loss. So, pretty much all of you reading this right now, and most everyone in Kentucky.

With the massive road win over Arkansas in the books, the resume is looking stronger. But where does Kentucky stack up right now in the eyes of the experts? The projections range from "terrifying" to "revenge tour." Here is the latest breakdown.

ESPN (Joe Lunardi) has Kentucky as an 8-seed

  • Update: January 30 (Pre-Arkansas win)
  • Seed: 8 (East Region)
  • The Matchup: vs. 9-seed UCF
  • The Storyline: Joey Brackets is a little slow on the draw, as this update came before the win in Fayetteville. But his scenario offers arguably the most electric storyline. He has Kentucky winning an 8/9 game to face 1-seed Duke in the Round of 32.
    If that happens, it might be the most anticipated 1-seed vs. 8-seed game since Kentucky ended Wichita State’s perfect season in 2014. Pope vs. Scheyer with the world watching? Sign us up.

CBS Sports has Kentucky as a 6-seed

  • Update: Post-Arkansas win
  • Seed: 6 (South Region)
  • The Matchup: vs. 11-seed (TBD)
  • The Storyline: CBS was impressed by the "Unbreakables" in Arkansas, bumping the Cats up to a solid 6-seed. The intrigue here lies in the second round, where Michigan State would likely be waiting. This would be the ultimate revenge spot. The Spartans blew Kentucky out back in November in a game the Cats were never really competitive in. A chance to flip the script in March would be poetic justice for Mark Pope’s squad.

HoopsHQ has Kentucky as a 7-seed

  • Update: Post-Arkansas win
  • Seed: 7 (South Region)
  • The Matchup: vs. 10-seed (TBD)
  • The Storyline: HoopsHQ gave the Cats a modest bump, moving them from an 8-seed to a 7-seed after the road win. The prize for advancing? A date with the 2-seed Houston Cougars.
    Houston’s physical style of defense vs. Kentucky’s pace would be a fascinating clash of philosophies.

The Cats are again safely in the field after recovering from their 25-point loss to Vandy, but the difference between a 6-seed and an 8-seed is massive. Avoiding a 1-seed in the second round is the goal, and if CBS is right, Kentucky is trending in the right direction.

Stay tuned, BBN. It’s about to get crazy.

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