Selection Sunday Thread (UPDATE: Lamont Butler WILL Play)

[Joneslab]

Almost unbelievably, Kentucky's journey isn't over.

Somehow and some way, tomorrow is Selection Sunday. The possibility of Lamont Butler still puts Kentucky probably in that 3/4 range. Not sure if the beatdown to Alabama drops us at all onto the 4 line, but it definitely didn't help.

We did see a drop in the NET to 14th, for what it's worth. However we have 11 Quad 1 wins, which ties us for fourth most in college basketball.

I don't have any hardcore predictions either way, but I wouldn't be surprised to see us as a 4 in the East with Duke. Looking at a possible second-round matchup in that region, you might look at a team like Purdue or Michigan.

And I don't think North Carolina should get in. That's crazy.

[TrueblueCATfan]

I love Selection Sunday..it's not the same without Greg Gumbel though

I think we are still a 3 seed

GO CATS

[KentuckyWild2020]

Almost unbelievably, Kentucky's journey isn't over.

Somehow and some way, tomorrow is Selection Sunday. The possibility of Lamont Butler still puts Kentucky probably in that 3/4 range. Not sure if the beatdown to Alabama drops us at all onto the 4 line, but it definitely didn't help.

We did see a drop in the NET to 14th, for what it's worth. However we have 11 Quad 1 wins, which ties us for fourth most in college basketball.

I don't have any hardcore predictions either way, but I wouldn't be surprised to see us as a 4 in the East with Duke. Looking at a possible second-round matchup in that region, you might look at a team like Purdue or Michigan.

And I don't think North Carolina should get in. That's crazy.

I have to get myself pumped up and excited one more time.

I think we go as far as Butler can take us. If he's good, i still think we can be good.

The Alabama game may have lit a fire, i hope so at least, good dose of reality..

[Jeff ROCKober]

I think Kentucky will likely get a 4 seed with that beatdown last night and Butler not being healthy. I am hoping for a 3 seed but just don't think we will get it. UNC has only one quad 1 win and that was UCLA. One! They should not be in and had their chance last night to punch it in but lost. Hubert Davis with one of the worst coaching jobs of the year with the players he has.
It will be interesting to see where Louisville goes if they upset and undermanned Duke team. I can see Louisville moving up to a 5 seed and putting them in the same bracket as UK for a potential matchup.

[Joneslab]

I think Kentucky will likely get a 4 seed with that beatdown last night and Butler not being healthy. I am hoping for a 3 seed but just don't think we will get it. UNC has only one quad 1 win and that was UCLA. One! They should not be in and had their chance last night to punch it in but lost. Hubert Davis with one of the worst coaching jobs of the year with the players he has.
It will be interesting to see where Louisville goes if they upset and undermanned Duke team. I can see Louisville moving up to a 5 seed and putting them in the same bracket as UK for a potential matchup.

We were talking the other day about expectations and how fans will react to Pope (generally) after the season.

If he won that first game and then got beat by Louisville in the second round? That...would be a tough pill to swallow for a lot of UK fans. Even with the injuries.

[Joneslab]

Also, if Tennessee beats Auburn here...that might be big for us. Having beaten them twice is a massive deal. That alone could push us into the 3.

[40bill]

I really have no clue how this will play out. I really could see a 4 seed, but after a big loss like we had I could legit see a 5.

Either way those 5/12 and 4/13 games always seem to have an early out for the higher seed.

As far as where we go, chances are we won't like it. I can only remember once it was looking sweet then K State shut tye door on us.

I'm glad we are going. I REALLY want the team to win that first game...that gets them back in the fan base better grace and that eliminates Pope's O-fer in tourney play.

A first round loss would certainly not be unusual given what has happened the last few years...but it would tarnish what has really been an outstanding coaching accomplishment.

[CATHYnKY]

Also, if Tennessee beats Auburn here...that might be big for us. Having beaten them twice is a massive deal. That alone could push us into the 3.

Ugly orange wins

[Matt Dillon]

I really have no clue how this will play out. I really could see a 4 seed, but after a big loss like we had I could legit see a 5.

Either way those 5/12 and 4/13 games always seem to have an early out for the higher seed.

As far as where we go, chances are we won't like it. I can only remember once it was looking sweet then K State shut tye door on us.

I'm glad we are going. I REALLY want the team to win that first game...that gets them back in the fan base better grace and that eliminates Pope's O-fer in tourney play.

A first round loss would certainly not be unusual given what has happened the last few years...but it would tarnish what has really been an outstanding coaching accomplishment.

I'm still thinking quite possibly a 3. Like you, Bill, I'd like to see them win at least one in the Big Dance. No matter what happens though, given the circumstances (putting the team together on short notice, lack of depth and injuries), I like our team and our coach.

[justford]

The Selection committee head was asked if injuries factored into team seeding. He said yes but Duke had assured them Flagg would be ready to go for the tournament. What did he think Duke was going to say??

[teamchemistry15]

It seems that the good wins mean more to the committee than the losses, so I'm thinking we are a three. I think the sweet 16 is a realistic expectation, and anything else is icing on the cake for an incredible first season for Pope with how it started and everything that's happened along the way. We've beaten a bunch of top 15 teams, which means we are capable of winning a sweet 16 game, but we have to have Butler.

[Joneslab]

Coming out of this league and winning some of the games we won, there's no excuse to lose that first game in the tournament if we have Butler. Gotta win it.

Anything beyond that then it'll be a coin flip. If Butler isn't 100% and is just out there, you can see us getting beat in the second game.

But gotta win the first. It's as important for Mark Pope as it is the program. When you have a coach who's never won in the tournament, he has to show he can do it.

[teamchemistry15]

Coming out of this league and winning some of the games we won, there's no excuse to lose that first game in the tournament if we have Butler. Gotta win it.

Anything beyond that then it'll be a coin flip. If Butler isn't 100% and is just out there, you can see us getting beat in the second game.

But gotta win the first. It's as important for Mark Pope as it is the program. When you have a coach who's never won in the tournament, he has to show he can do it.

For as many "most important game of the season" talks we've had, you're right in that he HAS to win the first one. Probably the most important game of his career.

[Joneslab]

And I sorta think the 3 is more possible (if the committee is told Butler is available) only because:

Kentucky had 5 wins against the teams playing for the SEC and ACC championships.

That's got have some weight, you would think.

[Joneslab]

Per Jon Rothstein, Butler will play.