Kentucky enters the SEC Tournament this week with a record of 18-11. Even with a first round loss, that should be enough to get into the NCAA Tournament.
But let's take a closer look at those 11 losses:
- Gardner-Webb (Lost 84-68) - Finished with a record of 16-16
- North Carolina (Lost 86-77) - The Tar Heels are 29-2 and a likely #1 seed in the NCAA Tourney
- Indiana (Lost 70-51) - The Hoosiers are 25-6 and a favorite to win the Big 10 Tourney
- UAB (Lost 79-76) - The Blazers are 22-9 and finished second in Conference USA behind #1 Memphis
- Houston (Lost 83-69) - The alma mater of Elvin Hayes are 22-8, one slot behind UAB in C-USA
- San Diego (Lost 81-72) - USD beat Gonzaga in their conference title game and enter the NCAA Tourney with a record of 21-13
- Louisville (Lost 89-75) - The Cards are 24-7 and tied for second place in the Big East
- Mississippi State (Lost 69-64) - The Bulldogs are the #1 seed in the SEC West with a record of 21-9
- Florida (Lost 81-70 in OT) - The Gators are a bubble team with a record of 21-10
- Vanderbilt (Lost 93-52) - Vanderbilt is 25-6 and could be a sleeper team in both the SEC and NCAA tourneys
- Tennessee (Lost 63-60) - The Vols are 28-3 and could be a #1 seed in the NCAA Tourney if they win the SEC Tournament
The average record of the teams that UK lost to is 23-8. Take out Gardner-Webb -- the only team from the above that will likely miss the NCAA Tourmament -- and that inflates to 24-7.
10 of the 11 teams that beat Kentucky during the regular season will likely make the big dance.
Four of those teams -- North Carolina, Indiana, Louisville, and Tennessee -- are favorites to win their conference tournaments and get the automatic bid. San Diego has already wrapped up the West Coast Conference automatic bid.
Those losses to San Diego, UAB, and Houston don't look so bad now do they?
Comments