Kentucky, Arkansas Enter Tilt in Lexington as Projected Double-Digit Seeds in NCAA Tourney

With just eight games left in the regular season, Kentucky basketball is still without a top-notch résumé good enough to earn a single-digit seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The Wildcats are coming off of a sixth win in a row in SEC play, improving their record to 16-7 (7-3 SEC), slowly but surely making the climb off of the bubble. Hopes of making March Madness appeared slim less than a month ago, but current projections are now looking up in Lexington.

ESPN's Joe Lunardi currently lists UK as a 10-seed ahead of its game against Arkansas on Tuesday night, taking on seven-seeded San Diego State out west in Sacramento, Calif. Lunardi does have the Cats in the South Region, which would bode well if they were able to advance past the first weekend, as the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight would take place in Louisville, Ky.

Say the Cats were to continue in the tourney and get to the Final Four, here would be their route to get to Houston, if they took on the highest seed available in each round:

Round of 64: No. 7 seed SDSU (Sacramento)
Round of 32: No. 2 seed UCLA (Sacramento)
Sweet 16: No. 3 seed Iowa State (Louisville)
Elite Eight: No. 1 seed Purdue (Louisville)

CBS Sports' Jerry Palm also currently pegs Kentucky as a 10-seed. He is sending the Wildcats on a two-weekend trip westward, first in Denver to take on the seven-seeded Illinois Fighting Illini. Palm has UK in the West Region, meaning the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games would take place in Las Vegas:

Round of 64: No. 7 seed Illinois (Denver)
Round of 32: No. 2 seed Arizona (Denver)
Sweet 16: No. 3 seed Marquette (Las Vegas)
Elite Eight: No. 1 seed Texas (Las Vegas)

The projections are far better than a few weeks prior, as playing in the First Four in Dayton appeared to be a real possibility through the first chunk of games in the SEC. Kentucky may have a chance to remove its name from the bubble with a win over Arkansas on Tuesday night.

Coach Eric Musselman's Razorbacks are in a similar situation to Kentucky, as they hold the same 16-7 record, but a 5-5 record in conference action. Arkansas opened SEC play losing four of its first five games, but have since surged back, winning its last four.

More on the Razorbacks HERE.

Lunardi places the Hogs as an 11-seed, avoiding the First Four, while Palm places them as one of the final four teams to make the 68-team field, taking on Clemson in Dayton. Hopes were high for Arkansas at the beginning of the season, as it had just cracked the Elite Eight for the second campaign in a row.

Tuesday night's showdown in Rupp Arena will serve as a chance for Kentucky to firmly establish itself as an NCAA Tournament-worthy team, while an upset win on the road would do just the same for the Razorbacks.

Tipoff is set for 9 p.m. EST and will air on ESPN.

More on the Razorbacks HERE.

Kentucky is still unranked in the new AP Poll. More HERE.

Cason Wallace earns third SEC Freshman of the Week Award. More HERE.

More on the win over the Gators HERE.

WATCH: Cason Wallace, CJ Fredrick, Jacob Toppin speak after win.

WATCH: Mike Pratt's jersey retirement ceremony

Want the latest on national football and basketball recruiting, including Cats targets? Head over to SI All-American for the latest news, blogs, and updates about the nation's best prospects.

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