Hey look, Kentucky is a No. 2 seed! (and other Bracketology notes)

Remember when Kentucky opened as a No. 6 seed in Joe Lunardi’s first Bracketology release a month and change ago? The ESPN analyst said “we shouldn’t overreact to any metrics at this point,” but overreacted to the metrics on the Wildcats.

Since then, he’s slowly moved UK up the seed lines like the Yodely Guy on the Price is Right, inching closer to where the eye test shows the Cats belong. Now? A No. 2 seed in the Midwest Region.

Kentucky would open its run in Indianapolis taking on No. 15 seed Western Kentucky — hey, we know them! — before a potential Round of 32 battle vs. No. 7 Nevada. From there, a trip to Detroit for the Regional, likely paired with No. 3 Marquette or No. 6 FAU in the Sweet Sixteen before a clash with No. 1 overall seed Purdue for a spot in the Final Four.

As for conference foes, the SEC leads the way with eight teams in the Big Dance, tied with the Big 12. Tennessee is also a No. 2 seed in the South, followed by Auburn at No. 3 in the West, Alabama at No. 6 in the East, Ole Miss at No. 8 Midwest, Texas A&M at No. 8 in the South, South Carolina at No. 9 in the East and Mississippi State at No. 11 in the Midwest.

Something else to keep an eye on? Florida is currently the first team out — the Gators fighting to get in would give the league nine teams in the tournament.

“There are some definite landmines in the league,” Lunardi told KSR+. “The winner of the league is not going to be 17-1. The winner of the league is probably going to be more likely to be 14-4. Can Kentucky go 14-4? Absolutely.”

The Big Ten and Big East have six teams in the field while the ACC has five, Mountain West and Pac-12 have four and the American and Sun Belt have two apiece to round out the 68-team group.

Check out the complete field, which includes No. 16 seed St. Peter’s in the play-in game on the other side of the bracket. Rematch in Phoenix?

Lunardi will keep the Bracketology updates rolling every Tuesday and Friday through Selection Sunday on March 17.

We’re starting to come around on you, Joe. Keep it up.