How has Kentucky fared as a No. 3 seed in past NCAA tournaments? It’s happened twice.
John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats will be a 3 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament.
The Wildcats drew a 3 seed and a round-of-64 matchup against 14 seed Oakland (23-11 overall) on Thursday in Pittsburgh.
What has this meant historically for the Wildcats?
Since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, UK has only been a 3 seed on two other occasions. Neither produced a national title or a Final Four appearance.
Here’s a look at how Kentucky has fared in each of those NCAA tournaments.
1994
Season record: 27-7 (12-4 SEC).
Leading scorers: Tony Delk (16.6 points), Rodrick Rhodes (14.6), Travis Ford (11.3).
Season recap: In his fifth season as UK’s head coach, Rick Pitino’s Wildcats started the season in strong fashion with a home win over No. 7 Louisville at Rupp Arena. That triumph was part of an 11-1 start to the campaign for the Cats.
UK put together two separate stretches of at least four consecutive wins in SEC play, and Pitino’s group went a perfect 3-for-3 at The Pyramid Arena in Memphis on its way to the SEC Tournament title. UK won each of its conference tournament games by at least 12 points.
UK won its round-of-64 NCAA Tournament game over Tennessee State by 13 points at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, but the Cats lost in the round of 32 to 6 seed Marquette by 12 points.
Only three UK players — Tony Delk, Andre Riddick and Walter McCarty — appeared in all 34 games that season.
In somewhat of a resemblance to this season’s UK squad, Kentucky led the nation that season in 3-pointers made (301, tied with Arkansas for the most) and attempted (857).
1999
Season record: 28-9 (11-5 SEC).
Leading scorers: Scott Padgett (12.6 points), Heshimu Evans (11.8), Wayne Turner (10.5).
Season recap: In Tubby Smith’s second season as the head coach in Lexington, the Wildcats spent 16 of the season’s 18 editions of the AP poll ranked in the top 10.
After a 10-1 start was punctuated by a big win at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta over Georgia Tech, the Cats endured a bit of an up-and-down season. This included setbacks to Louisville at Freedom Hall, to Tennessee in Rupp Arena and to Florida, Alabama, Arkansas and Tennessee on the road.
Just like the 1993-94 squad that also earned a 3 seed, the Wildcats went a perfect 3-for-3 in the SEC Tournament with a trio of double-digit wins over Ole Miss, Auburn and Arkansas to win the conference tournament in Atlanta.
In March Madness, the Cats made it all the way to the Elite Eight: UK knocked off New Mexico State, Kansas (in overtime) and Miami (Ohio) before falling to a Michigan State team led by Morris Peterson and Mateen Cleaves in the Midwest Region finals.
UK led at halftime of that game, but was outscored by eight in the second half.
History of No. 3 seeds in the NCAA Tournament
Since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, 3 seeds have gone a combined 281-148 (65.5%) in tournament games and have won the national championship on four occasions.
Those four national champions were: Michigan (1989), Syracuse (2003), Florida (2006) and UConn (2011).
All-time in round-of-64 games, 3 seeds have a 130-22 (85.5%) record against 14 seeds.
The last 14 seed to upset a 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament was Abilene Christian over Texas in 2021.
Next game
No. 3 Kentucky vs. No. 14 Oakland
What: NCAA Tournament first round
When: 7:10 p.m. ET Thursday
TV: CBS-27
Where: PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh
UK basketball’s 2024 NCAA Tournament path is set. Here’s who, where the Cats will play.
