|
|
| collegehoops.net | ||||
|
||||
Question of the Week: Will Kentucky Make the NCAA Tournament?
|
December 23rd, 2008
by Shawn Siegel
Jodie Meeks - UK
Each week, I'll pose a Question of the Week for you the reader to chew on and digest..
This Week's Question: Will Kentucky Make the NCAA Tournament?
After falling to VMI (painful) and UNC (no big deal), Kentucky has rallied to win 9 of their last 10 games. Since losing to Miami (tolerable) on December 6th, the Wildcats have blown out their last four opponents and Jodie Meeks has put up some Stephen Curry-type games. With two more cupcakes coming up before New Year's (FAU & CMU), the Cats will be 11-3 heading into an interstate showdown against rival Louisville.
Despite the solid record and name recognition, UK received 0 votes in both the AP & Coaches Poll this week, and are currently sitting at a mediocre 68th in RPI. Their SOS of 95th isn't half bad, but they have just one quality win (over West Virginia).
As you remember, UK struggled early last year, before winning a bunch of mediocre SEC games and fooling the committee into thinking they were half decent. As mediocre as the SEC was last year, its twice as worse this season. Outside of Tennessee, no one is a Tourney lock. So the question remains, will Kentucky make the NCAA Tournament? Not should they or could they, but will they?
Lets hear what you have to say.. Post your comments below!
-- Question of the Week Archive:
Dec. 15 - Will Gonzaga Finally Get Past the Sweet 16?
Dec. 9 - How Good Will Stephen Curry be in the NBA?
Dec. 2 - Who Will be Arizona's Next Head Coach?
Nov. 26 - Did the NCAA Come Down Hard Enough on Kelvin Sampson?
Comments
Yes
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 2008-12-24 10:52.
I think the SEC's weakness will strongly work to UK's advantage. the committee wont percieve the league like we do, they'll still be awed by the letters SEC and take 4 teams, and UK will inevitable one of the league's top 4
Absolutely!
Submitted by MTCAT04 (not verified) on Thu, 2008-12-25 14:59.
I've watched each of the 'Cats games this year and have seen a steady improvement in their point guard play. Right now, it's point-by-committee, as it's most talented prospect (Liggins) is a freshman, still trying to find his way. The committee approach is working as the 'Cats offense is top ten in the country in most catagories. Turnovers (their greatest nemisis) have begun to drop as the players are becoming more comfortible with their teammates and their individual strengths and weakmesses. In short, they are learning to play together and anticipate where their teammates are going to be and do. I see the team tearing through the weak SEC, winning the tournament and receiving the automatic SEC bid. Will probably be a 5-seed in the Big Dance.
not a chance
Submitted by Jeff Wright on Thu, 2008-12-25 20:10.
Big Dance yes, but Tennessee and Florida are too good for the 'Cats. 3rd of the 4 bids that they get, and a 7/8 seed to go along with it. If they were to work right through the SEC as you say, they would be a 3/4 seed.
Mark my word! By the time
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 2009-01-04 01:16.
Mark my word! By the time March arrives UK will be at least a #2 seed if not #1 seed.You can take that to the bank!
Hey Jeff What happenned to
Submitted by James Watson on Sat, 2009-01-17 08:38.
Hey Jeff
What happenned to tennesse being too good for the cats? Yea, kentucky is going to make the tournament and they will likely be a four or a five seed,
James Watson
I didn't expect them to all be bad
Submitted by Jeff Wright on Fri, 2009-02-27 13:13.
Sorry I didn't see this reply earlier, but I didn't expect tennessee and Florida to be this bad!
how do you figure this??? uk
Submitted by drakead (not verified) on Wed, 2009-02-25 23:55.
how do you figure this??? uk is NOT a lock for the tournament...they get their ass handed to them by south carolina who's schedule is softer than uk's...uk sucks..and their strength of schedule and lack of quality wins will keep them out...ESPECIALLY after they lose to LSU (very overrated), and a loss to florida to end the year..(guaranteed)...finish the season at 20-11 with no quality wins except vs. west virginia...can't see how you could put kentucky in...so what if they beat tennessee twice...where is tennessee ranked right now?? oh yeah, nowhere to be found..Uk is not a good basketball team. for all you uk fans..i hate to tell you that your beloved cats will NOT make the big dance, IF they lose to lsu and florida to end the season...Ive watched uk play alot this year and they are not impressive at all. Jodie Meeks is the only one worth a damn..patterson is overrated and easy to shut down.
kentucky best in the sec!!!!!
Submitted by kentucky best in the sec!!!!! (not verified) on Thu, 2009-02-26 09:00.
yes kentucky will make it there going to will beat lsu and will defentialy beat whoever else comes next
kentucky best in the sec!!!!!
Submitted by kentucky best in the sec!!!!! (not verified) on Thu, 2009-02-26 09:00.
yes kentucky will make it there going to will beat lsu and will defentialy beat whoever else comes next
No, they aren't.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 2009-02-26 10:34.
Best program in the SEC overall, but not this year. My guess is they make the big dance and get eliminated in round 2.
KENTUCKYS NEW HEAD BASKETBALL COACH
Submitted by Larry T Clemons (not verified) on Tue, 2009-03-10 22:27.
Kentucky's Historic Program needs Coach Bobby Knight, NOW !!! 4 year contract...Don't let Coach Knight go to Georgia...
Add comment
More CHN Articles
SPONSORS
About Shawn Siegel
Columnist
Shawn Siegel - Head Editor
Contact
shawn@collegehoops.net
Background
Shawn Siegel created CollegeHoops.net (formerly collegehoopsnet.com) back in the summer of 2002, and it has since grown into the web's largest independent college basketball site, visited by over 1,000,000 visitors per year. Shawn is responsible for the CHN Top 50,Bracketology projections (he is ranked the #1 Bracketologist over the last 4 years), as well the NBA Mock Draft.
Shawn's college basketball and NBA Draft commentary has been quoted in dozens of national newspapers, and he's been a featured guest on numerous radio programs.
After graduating from Washington University and Washington University Law School before, Shawn passed the New Jersey Bar exam but no longer practices Law. For more on his background, visit his
LinkedIn profile.
Please email him at shawn@collegehoops.net with all media requests, advertising inquiries, and partnership opportunities.
Shawn's Personal Site: Eye Am Shawn
Shawn's Humor Site: Happy Smart Book
Shawn's Other Site: Trippy Celebs
Location
New York City
Favorite Links
How many teams will mid-major SEC get in?
Kentucky should be in the top 4-5 teams in the SEC, but the question is, how many teams from the SEC will get in? The only game I watched Kentucky play is vs. UNC, which isn't a great measure since they blow everyone out. What I have seen is the SEC teams continuing to disappoint against big competition. 1 team in the top 25- Tennessee who has a good wins over Gonzaga and Marquette, but lost to Temple who hasn't been relevant since they made the Tourney in 2001.
Point being- the SEC is NOT good, and Kentucky will have to win another big game in order to get in the tournament. They need to show up against Tennessee,Florida and Louisville - and win 1-2 of those games. They will need 21 wins overall to make the tourney with those couple of quality wins. Their Strength of schedule will not go up drastically compared to ACC and Big East schools when they start playing each other, so they are going to need W's to get them into about 3rd in the SEC to be guaranteed a place in March Madness. I think they will make the tournament because if on the fence, they have the benefit of being one of the most recognizable names in college basketball and getting the media bias.