Preseason Coaches Poll Picks Kentucky to Finish Sixth in SEC East

Kentucky baseball will begin its season in one week, as it travels to Elon, N.C. to take on the Elon Phoenix in a three-game set from Feb. 17-19.

The series will begin a 54-game schedule for the Bat Cats, who're looking to snap a five-season streak of not making the NCAA Tournament. The biggest reason for the drought is without question the unfathomably tough opponents that always await UK upon the beginning of conference play.

This season will be no different, as UK will play 17 games against teams ranked in the Preseason Top 10. A whopping nine SEC teams are in the opening-day rankings, while Kentucky's overall schedule projects to be one of the toughest in the conference.

On Thursday, the SEC released its Preseason Coaches Poll, pegging the Cats to finish sixth in the East division, only beating out Missouri. Kentucky received 34 overall votes, better than just Mizzou, Mississippi State and Auburn.

There are clear favorites in each division, as Tennessee earned 12 of the 14 first-place votes in the East, while LSU accumulated 12 of the 14 in the West. The Tigers also tallied 11 conference champion votes.

UK travels to Baton Rouge for a three-game series against LSU from April 14-18. It'll also take on the Volunteers in Knoxville for three from May 12-14.

Additionally, no Wildcat was tabbed to either the first nor second Preseason All-SEC teams.

"Our schedule, that's something we always talk about, another challenging schedule as you can imagine," coach Nick Mingione said during his Media Day press conference on Wednesday. "That's just what comes with the Southeastern Conference, so that's just another year."

First pitch between Kentucky and Elon on Feb. 17 at Latham Park is set for 4 p.m. EST.

Wildcats Today will have coverage of Kentucky baseball during the 2023 campaign.

More on Kentucky's transfer portal additions HERE.

Kentucky's schedule is projected to be one of the toughest in the SEC. More HERE.

You can find Kentucky's entire 2023 schedule here.

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