Pat Forde still hates Kentucky
The Kentucky Wildcats are getting prepared for their first round matchup with the Troy Trojans on Friday night as they look to start what will hopefully be a deep March run.
Well, according to Pat Forde of Sports Illustrated, that run won’t even get started.
Forde broke down his rankings of teams in the NCAA Tournament and listed the Cats as the 30th-best team in this year’s postseason.
Yes, Forde doesn’t believe 3-seeded Kentucky is even one of the top 25 best teams in the Big Dance.
“This is a battered team, down three guards from the start of the season but hoping Lamont Butler can get back into the lineup this week,” Forde said. “They’re 7–6 in February and March, giving up an average of 93 points in those six losses.”
Mark Pope has done a phenomenal job hitting high points this season—beating Duke, Gonzaga, Louisville, Florida, Missouri, and Tennessee twice—but there might not be much left in the tank. Kentucky could get on a shooting roll and make a run, or its defensive and rebounding lapses could lead to an early exit.”
With the return of Lamont Butler to the lineup, you have to like the Cats’ chances to make some noise in March. Although it won’t be an easy route, a trip to Indianapolis and the Sweet 16 could be exactly what this fanbase needs to help get over the dreadful run of tournament games from the past few seasons.
