*Checks mic*... Indiana? Is this you?
The mind boggling fact that Kentucky is desperate for wins in hopes of making the big dance just doesn't feel right. The season resume backs up that decision, yes, but this just isn't the Kentucky Basketball as I know it. ESPN's Joe Lunardi, the bracketologist that helps form the NCAA Tournament bracket each season, has Kentucky listed in the group of the 'Last Four In', as we're just a month away from Selection Sunday.
"It's not every day that we look at the "Last Four In" list and see names like North Carolina and Kentucky. Then again, it's not every day that two of the top three winningest programs in college basketball history are a combined 2-15 against Quadrant 1 foes," said Lunardi. "And one of those Q1 victories -- North Carolina over Ohio State -- came against a team that entered play Thursday with a losing record. This is, by any measure, not good for a pair of blue bloods who were projected for the Final Four. Instead, the First Four might be their actual destination. Wow."
Regarding the teams that are currently on the bubble, Joe Lunardi has USC, Nevada, Oklahoma State and Boise State in before the Wildcats, and deservedly so. In Kentucky's section, the 'Last Four In' include New Mexico, North Carolina and Texas A&M. The teams that fall just short and behind Kentucky are Memphis, Wisconsin, Oregon and Seton Hall.
If the tournament started today, Kentucky would be an 11 seed in the play-in games, likely facing New Mexico, for a chance to go to the actual dance with a win. The Cats would have to win two games at that point, just to make it further than they did last March. Having defeated New Mexico, they would then play No. 6 Iowa in Orlando, Florida in the East Region and for their right to survive in the Round of 64.
Sadly, the season does not end today and the Cats still have seven remaining regular season games left, before heading down to Nashville for the SEC Tournament. The win column must get reactivated, if they want to have legitimate discussions on any kind of seeding.