September Bracketology update has Kentucky MBB as a one-seed

By all accounts, it feels safe to say that Kentucky men’s basketball will begin the 2022-23 season ranked among the top five best teams in the country.

As we dip into the fall months of the offseason and sit roughly two months away from opening tip, it’s time for another Bracketology update from Mr. Joe Lunardi. On Tuesday morning, ESPN released its updated 68-team field projections for the 2023 NCAA Tournament. The Kentucky Wildcats were slotted as one of four one-seeds, which is where the program has been tabbed for most of the summer.

Lunardi has Kentucky as the top overall seed in the South (Louisville) Region with a battle against the winner of Southern and Sacred Heart making up the first round. The Wildcats would then play the winner of No. 8 Purdue and No. 9 Oklahoma State in the Round of 32.

NCAA Bracketology – Projecting the 2023 March Madness men's field. 🏀🏀 Remembering IU’s glory days… https://t.co/qie3gvBcWo

— Joe Lunardi (@ESPNLunardi) September 6, 2022

Back in April, when Lunardi first dropped his “Way-Too-Early” Bracketology predictions, he had Kentucky as the top seed in the entire country. That continued into May before the ‘Cats were overtaken by Gonzaga in June, which is still viewed as the top seed by ESPN. Kentucky and Gonzaga will play each other this season in Spokane, WA.

In total, seven programs from the Southeastern Confernce made Lunardi’s bracket. Joining Kentucky are the likes of Tennessee (No. 2 seed), Arkansas (No. 3 seed), Auburn (No. 4 seed), Alabama (No. 6 seed), Texas A&M (No. 8 seed), and Florida (No. 10 seed). LSU and Missouri are two of the teams in the Next Four Out group.

In-state rival Louisville, now coached by former Wildcat assistant Kenny Payne, is not projected to make the tournament at this time.