Texas A&M will be fighting for its postseason life vs. Kentucky

Kentucky will make the NCAA Tournament regardless of what happens tonight at Bridgestone Arena; that may not be the case for Texas A&M. The Aggies are on the bubble of the Big Dance, meaning they’ll be fighting for their postseason lives vs. Kentucky.

Texas A&M is the last team in the field in Joe Lunardi’s latest Bracketology. The Aggies are the first team out according to Jerry Palm. Where exactly they sit on the bubble is up for debate, but one thing that is certain is a win over Kentucky would lock up their bid to the NCAA Tournament. Texas A&M is No. 46 in the NET Rankings and Kentucky is No. 18, meaning tonight’s game is Quad 1 for both teams; for the Aggies, it’s Quad 1A, making it a potential cherry on top of a resume.

While John Calipari has been downplaying the importance of the SEC Tournament to his team all week, the Cats will have revenge as a motivating factor. The Aggies beat the Cats in College Station earlier this season. Kentucky is a very different squad now vs. then (Adou Thiero and Zvonimir Ivisic didn’t play in that game), but the Cats will have to match the Aggies’ energy to advance.

Here’s what the prognosticators are saying about Texas A&M’s NCAA Tournament chances and the latest projected brackets.

The Athletic’s Justin Williams

“Texas A&M finished strong, winning three Q2 games in a row over Georgia, Mississippi State, and Ole Miss, along with previous wins over Tennessee and Kentucky at home and Iowa State on a neutral floor. The Aggies secured a second consecutive win over the Rebels on Thursday in a game that might have nudged them above the cut line thanks to a few losses elsewhere. Based on the past couple days, a win over Kentucky on Friday would probably be enough. A loss sends them to the waiting game line.”

ESPN’s John Gasaway

“Is it possible the Aggies don’t even need to beat Kentucky to reach the field of 68? Texas A&M’s ascent in bracket projections from “first four out” to “last four in” was evident even before the final horn sounded on a nine-point win over Ole Miss. The victory marked A&M’s fourth straight and its second over the Rebels in five days. Mock brackets now show the Aggies as holding one of the very last spots in the field. That said, a win over the Wildcats in the SEC quarterfinals would of course figure to lock in the good news, not to mention guard against bid thieves elsewhere on the bubble.”

ESPN’s Joe Lunardi

As mentioned, Texas A&M is the last team in per Lunardi’s morning update. Kentucky is still a No. 3 seed, but in the Midwest Region now with No. 1 seed Purdue and No. 2 seed Marquette. Creighton, which lost to Providence last night, is down to the No. 3 seed line. Duke, which also lost, remains a No. 3 seed.

The Athletic’s Brian Bennett

Texas A&M is also the last team in the field in Brian Bennett’s latest bracket for The Athletic. Kentucky is up to a No. 3 seed in the East Region with No. 1 seed UConn and No. 2 seed North Carolina. The Cats are No. 12 on the seed list just behind Creighton (No. 10) and Duke (No. 11). Put together a good run in Nashville, and the Cats can move up.

CBS Sports’ Jerry Palm

Palm replaced Duke with Kentucky on the No. 3 seed line after the Blue Devils’ loss to NC State. The Cats are in the South Region with No. 1 seed Houston and No. 2 seed Marquette, playing opening-round games in Brooklyn. Texas A&M is on the wrong side of the bubble as the First Team Out.

USA Today

USA Today’s trio of Paul Myerberg, Erick Smith, and Eddie Timanus also has the Aggies as the First Team Out. Kentucky is the No. 3 seed in the East Region in their latest bracket with No. 1 seed UConn and No. 2 seed Iowa State, playing opening-round games in Memphis.