How will Kentucky's stumble against UNC-Wilmington impact their seeding in March?

Could Kentucky's loss to UNC-Wilmington impact how they are seeded in the 2024 NCAA Tournament?

It is far too early to predict how the 2024 NCAA Tournament seeding will shake out on Selection Sunday, but early predictions look promising for John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats.

The latest ESPN bracketology report from Joe Lunardi has Kentucky as a four seed, and certainly their resume heading into the meat of SEC play is enticing: a 9-2 record, big wins over North Carolina and Miami, and a tough, very competitive loss to an excellent Kansas squad.

However, the other loss is what is worrisome: an 80-73 defeat at Rupp Arena by the Seahawks of UNC-Wilmington.

UNCW isn't a bad team, they are 9-2 and ranked 114th at KenPom, but it is the obvious wart on an otherwise very quality resume for the Wildcats.

Currently Kentucky is No. 27 in the NET, with a 1-1 record in Quad 1 and a combined 7-0 record in Quad's 2 and 4. 

However, the Wilmington loss is the only Quad 3 loss by a team currently in the top 30 of the NET - and it is no doubt going to be considered by the committee in March.

Of course, Kentucky has a ton of Quad 1 opportunities remaining in the SEC, and with a developing team and the return of Aaron Bradshaw (Wilmington was his first game back) and Ugonna Onyenso - and if the NCAA allows it, Zvonomir Ivisic - this team will look a lot different in early March.

How the committee evaluates this team will be an interesting litmus test for how impactful those early season losses are for a young team like Kentucky that - at least hopefully - will be firing on all cylinders by the time the Big Dance rolls around.

The Wildcats host Illinois State on December 29 before starting conference play on January 6 in Gainesville against the Florida Gators.

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