The Kentucky Wildcats are 3–1 through their first four games, and while they’ve handled most opponents with ease, their lone loss came in the matchup that mattered most — the rivalry showdown at Louisville.
Kentucky opened the season strong with dominant wins over Nicholls State and Valparaiso. But their first real test came on the road against the Cardinals, where the Cats fell behind by 20 in the second half before mounting a determined comeback. They nearly cut the deficit to one possession in the final minutes, showing resilience despite the eventual loss. The Wildcats quickly bounced back, rolling past Eastern Illinois on Friday.
Now, with a primetime battle against top-25 Michigan State looming at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, Kentucky has another chance to prove itself after sliding to No. 12 in the latest AP Poll. But don’t tell ESPN’s Joe Lunardi that a No. 12 ranking usually equals a No. 3 seed — he still believes Kentucky is a top-eight team by season’s end.
Lunardi once again projects the Wildcats as a No. 2 seed in his NCAA Tournament bracketology, signaling confidence that Kentucky will rebound as their schedule toughens. He has Louisville slotted one line lower as a No. 3 seed. With the SEC slate full of potential Quad 1 opportunities, Kentucky should have plenty of chances to strengthen its résumé.
According to Lunardi’s current projection, Kentucky would open the tournament against St. Thomas, then face the winner of Creighton vs. Mississippi State. The UConn Huskies headline the bracket as the No. 1 seed.
Before tournament talk becomes reality, Kentucky has major issues to address. Tuesday’s matchup with Michigan State could do a lot to settle nerves around Big Blue Nation — especially if the Wildcats can cover the 5.5-point spread.
The talent is undoubtedly there. Now it’s up to Mark Pope to figure out how to bring it all together on the court. Defense, in particular, must take a significant step forward in their second real test of the season.
