Bracketology predictions: How Kentucky’s win over Tennessee impacts their NCAA Tournament seeding

Kentucky basketball defeated Tennessee in arguably their biggest win of the season so far. How does it impact bracketology predictions, and their NCAA Tournament seeding?

Just a few weeks ago, Kentucky basketball fans wanted John Calipari fired. But, as Coach Cal has done so many times before, he was patient with his team. The Wildcats have grown more cohesive as a unit — specifically on offense — as the season has gone along.

Oscar Tshiebwe is starting to look like the Oscar Tshiebwe of last season, now averaging 15.8 points per game and nearly 14 rebounds per contest. Antonio Reeves, Jacob Toppin and Cason Wallace are starting to come into their own.

UK will be a tough out should they reach March Madness. Up until a few games ago, even that was uncertain.

Per Joe Lunardi, Kentucky was one of the ‘Last Four In’ heading into Saturday’s game. Their contest against the No. 10-ranked Tennessee Volunteers was a decisive one.

Bracketology: What Kentucky’s win over Tennessee means for NCAA Tournament

In the latest NCAA Tournament top-16 reveal, Tennessee was deemed a No. 3 seed. That should make the Wildcats’ 12-point victory over the Vols even more impressive.

Four players scored in double figures for Kentucky on Saturday afternoon, with Tshiebwe leading the way. Tshiebwe, Wallace, Toppin and Livingston combined for 55 points. Reeves chipped in for another eight. Perhaps the bigger story was the Wildcats’ defense, which held Tennessee to just 54 points on 37 percent shooting from the field.

By defeating Tennessee and sweeping the regular-season series, Kentucky solidified their spot in the NCAA Tournament field, barring a surprising collapse between now and early March.

The Cats have four games remaining on their SEC regular season slate, all against unranked opponents to perhaps boost their overall record and resume prior to the conference tournament.