UK Fans of the Day Want Kentucky NCAA Tournament National Media Predictions

The bracket is out and Kentucky got a pretty favorable draw, all things considered. The Cats are the No. 3 seed in the South Region, needing to take down No. 14 Oakland and No. 6 Texas Tech/No. 11 NC State to get to the Sweet 16, and, if chalk holds, No. 2 Marquette to potentially face No. 1 seed Houston for a spot in the Final Four, which would be the program’s first since 2015.

Kentucky’s faceplant in the SEC Tournament has most national media members backing off picking the Cats to win it all, but there are still a few optimists out there. By now, you’ve likely seen that Dick Vitale has Kentucky winning the national championship, beating UConn in the final game. Seth Greenberg has the same matchup, but the Huskies taking home the title. The most popular exit for the Cats is either the Final Four or the Elite Eight. In my research, only one national media member has Kentucky not making the second weekend. I bet you can guess who.

To the roundup!

Dick Vitale: National Championship

Seth Greenberg: National Championship Game (Losing to UConn)

“Houston and Kentucky. I think Kentucky finds a way to rebound the ball and actually guard the ball. They win that game and then the Final Four, I’ve got Kentucky beating Purdue and UConn winning it all.”

Jay Williams: Final Four (Losing to Tennessee)

Jay Bilas: Elite Eight (Losing to Houston)

Clark Kellogg: Final Four (Losing to Purdue)

Jeff Goodman: Final Four

“That’s my bold prediction. I think Kentucky goes to the Final Four. I really do and I see them, even if they don’t guard, I still think they outscore people in the South Region. I just don’t think there’s anybody that’s really capable of beating them. If they even play their C game, I think they win those games.”

Andraya Carter, ESPN: Final Four

Jeff Borzello, ESPN: Elite Eight (Losing to Houston)

“I think 3-seed Kentucky and 7-seed Florida are both good enough to win multiple games in this region, especially given how well the Gators were playing in the SEC tournament. Kentucky can score with anyone in the country, but can the Wildcats get enough stops to get to Phoenix? If Houston can regain its form on the defensive end, the Cougars should be able to slow down Reed Sheppard, Rob Dillingham and Antonio Reeves and advance to the Final Four.”

Dana O’Neil, The Athletic: Final Four (Losing to Purdue)

Brendan Quinn, The Athletic: Final Four (Losing to Creighton)

Justin Williams, The Athletic: Final Four (Losing to Tennessee)

“I think the bracket sets up well for Kentucky — Marquette gets upset early, Duke takes out Houston — and I’m banking on the Cats and all that talent getting hot at the right time and having enough offense to mask the bad defense for a couple weeks.”

Andy Katz: Final Four (Losing to Purdue)

“Kentucky advances to play Houston and all the squawking about John Calipari can’t get back to the Final Four, I think he gets there. I think in Dallas, he takes down Kelvin Sampson and the Houston Cougars and Kentucky gets to the Final Four. Reed Sheppard gets there like his dad Jeff Sheppard did. As a No. 3 seed, Kentucky advances.”

Matt Norlander, CBS Sports: Elite Eight (Losing to Houston)

Kyle Boone, CBS Sports: Elite Eight (Losing to Duke)

Gary Parrish, CBS Sports: Sweet 16 (Losing to Marquette)

Jerry Palm, CBS Sports: Sweet 16 (Losing to Marquette)

CJ Moore, The Athletic: Sweet 16 (Losing to Marquette)

“Kentucky and Illini are the two teams in this bracket that give off the most 2023 Miami vibes. Both are electric on offense and suspect on defense. I trust the Illini more because they’re older. If Marquette-Kentucky happens in the Sweet 16, it’ll be super watchable and likely fast-paced. Wish we knew exactly how healthy Kolek will be, but Marquette is a nightmare matchup for Kentucky’s defense. Kentucky’s ball-screen defense has been brutal for much of the season, and Kolek and Oso Ighodaro are one of the best pick-and-roll tandems in the country. Marquette also can guard.”

Terrence Oglesby, Field of 68: Elite Eight

Tyler Hansbrough, Field of 68: Elite Eight

John Fanta, Field of 68: Elite Eight

“For Kentucky, if not now, then freaking when? Under John Calipari? It’s time. It’s time for you, Kentucky, to put a run together. The time is now. Can you do it? That draw is gettable. Go and do it. I believe you will. I’m picking you to go to the Elite Eight.”

Kevin Sweeney, Sports Illustrated: Elite Eight (Losing to Houston)

Pat Forde, Sports Illustrated: 2nd Round (Losing to Texas Tech)

Forde is the only national media member I could find that has UK losing in the first weekend. He has Texas Tech knocking the Cats out in the Round of 32 but notes that Oakland could give Kentucky fits in the first round.

“The No. 3 seed Wildcats and No. 14 Grizzlies will shoot a million threes, run the floor and only occasionally guard each other. This has the makings of the highest-scoring game of the first round. If Oakland gets hot from the outside and doesn’t give up too many lob dunks to the taller Wildcats, the Grizzlies can make this stressful for Kentucky. John Calipari hasn’t gotten out of the first weekend since 2019.”

At the very least, we need to prove Forde wrong.