Updated SEC standings show just how dire Kentucky's situation is

The Cats were playing for first place in the SEC just nine days ago, if you can believe that. What a difference those nine days have made. Now Kentucky is on a three-game slide, and they are right back to fighting for their March Madness lives.

Take a look at the updated SEC standings as of Monday, Feb. 23:

The updated SEC standings highlight the damage done

1. Florida Gators: 12-2 SEC (21-6 Overall)

2. Alabama Crimson Tide: 10-4 SEC (20-7 Overall)

3. Arkansas Razorbacks: 10-4 SEC (20-7 Overall)

4. Tennessee Volunteers: 10-4 SEC (20-7 Overall)

5. Texas A&M Aggies: 9-5 SEC (19-8 Overall)

6. Vanderbilt Commodores: 8-6 SEC (21-6 Overall)

7. Missouri Tigers: 8-6 SEC (18-9 Overall)

8. Kentucky Wildcats: 8-6 SEC (17-10 Overall)

9. Texas Longhorns: 8-6 SEC (17-10 Overall)

10. Georgia Bulldogs: 7-7 SEC (19-8 Overall)

11. Auburn Tigers: 6-8 SEC (15-12 Overall)

12. Mississippi State Bulldogs: 5-9 SEC (13-14 Overall)

13. Oklahoma Sooners: 3-11 SEC (13-14 Overall)

14. South Carolina Gamecocks: 3-11 SEC (12-15 Overall)

15. Ole Miss Rebels: 3-11 SEC (11-16 Overall)

16. LSU Tigers: 2-12 SEC (14-13 Overall)

A Wednesday start at the SEC Tournament is officially in play
That means if the SEC Tournament ended today, Kentucky would be the No. 8 seed, meaning the Cats would have a first-round bye, avoiding Wednesday thanks to owning the tiebreaker with a win over Texas. That would mean a matchup with the winner of No. 9 seed Texas and No. 16 seed LSU.

Kentucky beat Texas by five earlier this year, while it took a miracle heave from Collin Chandler to Malachi Moreno for the Cats to walk away winners down in Baton Rouge. The prize for winning that game is playing the No. 1 seed Gators again. Some prize.

But with four games left, if Kentucky loses three of them, the Wildcats could fall all the way to 12th in the SEC. That means playing on Wednesday, and playing for your March Madness life, needing most likely two—maybe even three—wins to secure an at-large bid.

The Cats did it to themselves, and have no one to blame except the man in the mirror, regardless of what Otega Oweh posts on Instagram.

The good news is Kentucky has been here before; they have gotten themselves up off the mat over and over. Can they do it one more time?