Kentucky MBB holds firm as one-seed in updated Bracketology

On3 image — Photo by Chet White | UK Athletics

The smell of basketball is floating throughout the Bluegrass State as we’re roughly one month away from the start of the Kentucky basketball season. Not only did the Big Blue Nation learn of the finalized schedule for 2022-23 on Tuesday, but the fan base was also treated to some preseason hype.

ESPN basketball expert Joe Lunardi updated the men’s NCAA Bracketology field for the upcoming 2023 NCAA Tournament, where he had Kentucky holding strong onto one of the four top seeds. The Wildcats, who are slotted in the Midwest (Kansas City) Region, have been a one-seed in Lunardi’s preseason projections since June.

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2023 NCAA Tournament Bracketology https://t.co/qie3gvBcWo 🏀🏀 Players are practicing. The regular season is less than five weeks away. It's just about time to put away the golf clubs and start scouting teams in person.
— Joe Lunardi (@ESPNLunardi) October 4, 2022

Joining Kentucky as the other one-seeds are Gonzaga (top overall seed), North Carolina, and Houston. UK’s first-round matchup would be against the winner of 16-seeds Nicholls State and Howard, the latter of which the ‘Cats will play at Rupp Arena on Nov. 7. Kentucky will also play Gonzaga on the road on Nov. 20 in a game that could have longterm seeding implications.

Kentucky is one of seven Southeastern Conference programs to make Lunardi’s 68-team field. Along with the ‘Cats, the likes of Arkansas, (3-seed), Tennessee (3-seed), Auburn (5-seed), Alabama (6-seed), Florida (8-seed), and Texas A&M (9-seed) all made the cut. UK’s in-state rival, the Louisville Cardinals, is not projected to make the tournament despite being the city hosting the South Region.

Big Blue Madness is just 10 days away…