The NCAA decided to give the college basketball world a "Selection Eve" surprise today, revealing the top 16 seeds for the Women's bracket a full day before the rest of the field is set. While the early reveal was a gift for travel logistics, fans, and ticket offices, it brought a harsh reality for Kentucky women's basketball: the Cats will not be hosting the first and second rounds at HMC.
The close but no cigar resume
The Cats finish the regular season and SEC Tournament section of their schedule at 23-10 (5-9 Quad 1), but so many tough losses to good teams held them back from hosting. They played Vanderbilt and South Carolina down to the wire in the regular season. Losing to Vanderbilt twice by a combined three points and having a late-possession chance to take down No. 1 South Carolina, but close doesn't count.
Coupled with a loss to Mississippi State who finished 18-13, it was too much to overcome. Even though Kentucky was playing without Teonni Key.
In the eyes of the committee, "close" doesn't earn you a home-court advantage. I respect that.
Now begins the road warrior path
Kenny Brooks has repeatedly said he doesn't care where the Cats play, as long as they are healthy and locked in. He’s going to get his wish. In the latest Bracketology update from ESPN's Charlie Creme, the Cats are projected as a 5-seed, potentially heading to the Morgantown Regional.
That path could feature a reunion with Brooks' former squad, James Madison, in a bracket that includes heavy hitters and familiar foes, UCLA, LSU, Louisville, and West Virginia. If that projection holds, the path to the Sweet 16 is actually not that bad for the Cats. Avoiding UCONN is priority number 1. This is a journey this team is built to handle.
They've played great, they've played bad. And now it's about putting it together for 2 weeks and giving everything you got. It just won't be done at home.
The Official Top 16 Hosts
The 16 teams that secured their home-court advantage (revealed in alphabetical order) are:
Duke, Iowa, Louisville, LSU, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio State, Oklahoma, South Carolina, TCU, Texas, UCLA, UConn, Vanderbilt, and West Virginia.
Only North Carolina (26-7) and West Virginia (27-6) broke into the top 16 that was revealed back on March 1st. Now we wait to see where Kentucky lands in the committe's eyes.
You have to earn the right to host, now Kentucky has to earn the right to keep playing
The right to host is earned in November and December, and those narrow losses in conference play proved to be the difference-maker. I think that's okay. Because seeding matters, but matchups matter just as much. Get a good draw, and this is a team that can make some noise in this year's tournament.
You have Clara Strack playing like Candace Parker, and with Tonie Morgan, they are only 1 of 2 teams to have a player in the 5 finalists for best center and best point guard. (South Carolina is the other)
The journey to a title now begins on the road for the Lady Cats. But if we've learned anything from Kenny Brooks, he ain't going to sweat it.