Kentucky Projecting to Host Regional With One Week Left in Regular Season

Kentucky baseball is going to snap its NCAA Tournament drought of five years at the end of May, when it's one of 64 teams selected to the postseason field.

Beyond that, it's anyone's guess as to where the Wildcats will end up — in Hoover for the SEC Tournament or in the big dance. UK will enter the final week of SEC play as the No. 6 seed in the tournament, though it could jump up or down a few spots based on results around the league.

More on those scenarios HERE.

As for the NCAA Tournament, Kentucky's upcoming series against Florida — as well as its run in the SEC Tournament — will play a great deal in where the Cats get seeded. Hosting a Regional at Kentucky Proud Park is very much in play, but a bad series against the Gators and a one-and-done outing in Hoover could drop head coach Nick Mingione's team down and have them on the road.

Here's where three different tournament projections place Cats:

D1Baseball

Last week, D1Baseball had Kentucky as the No. 8 national seed, meaning it would host a Regional and also a Super Regional, if it were to get there. Following a 2-2 week that included a midweek win over Tennessee Tech and a series loss at Tennessee, the Cats have been dropped down out of national seed range.

Still hosting, the No. 10 Wildcats would welcome a Power 5 foe that UK football knows all-too well, as well as a couple of opponents that have already played at KPP this season.

Indiana State came to Lexington for the third weekend of the regular season and proceeded to lose all three games to the Cats in close fashion: 4-2, 5-4, 7-6. The Sycamores put up a fight and showed glimpses of a solid baseball team.

Since then, ISU is 33-6, which included winning 18 of 19 games at one point. It's 21-3 in Missouri Valley play and has an arguable gripe to be a Regional host. It owns the No. 12 RPI and has helped keep UK atop the RPI thanks to the sweep.

Iowa is one of the few respectable Big Ten teams this season and currently owns a 37-12 (13-7 B10) record, having won four of its last five series. It defeated Indiana State 6-2 in 11 innings in the first game of the season.

Wright State took a game against UK in the second weekend of the season, though it was bookended by 8-3 and 15-0 drubbings. The Raiders are 34-18 and in place to conquer the Horizon League once again.

Baseball America

Baseball America forecasts a similar seeding, putting the Wildcats at the No. 11 overall seed.

Once again, a pair of familiar foes are projected to join the Regional:

Both Indiana and Morehead State were crushed in midweeks, with the Hoosiers eating a 12-2 run-rule defeat, while the Eagles were trounced 15-1.

Like Iowa, IU (39-14, 15-6 B10) has found success in Big Ten play and is currently riding an eight-game winning streak. MSU (32-19, 14-7 OVC) is on track to win the automatic bid from the Ohio Valley. Indiana swept the Eagles in a series earlier this season.

Notre Dame (29-20, 14-13 ACC) is in the middle of the pack in the ACC — likely the second best conference in the country behind the SEC. The Fighting Irish have swept Virginia but also lost a series to Georgia Tech.

11.7

The good folks over at 11.7 have also continuously released Field of 64 projections, with their latest update coming on Tuesday afternoon. They've got Kentucky claiming the final national seed at No. 8, in what would be a huge feat for the Cats:

Throw North Carolina (33-18, 14-11 ACC) in that same ACC cement mixer that practically churns out random results every weekend. The Tar Heels possess some talented players and would make for a fun No. 2 seed in a regional.

USC (32-20-1, 16-11 P12) is amongst the heap of teams out west that carry some question marks, but also show signs of being able to make a run to Omaha. It owns a series win over likely national seed Stanford and has currently won seven of its last eight games heading into the postseason.

More over, the uniform matchups here would be incredible. Morehead's all yellow, UNC's all baby blue, USC's classic red and gold and Kentucky's blue and black. Yes, please.

First pitch in game one between Kentucky and Florida on Thursday, May 18 is set for 6:30 p.m. EST and will air on SEC Network+.

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