After a dominant road win against the Missouri Tigers on Saturday, the Kentucky Wildcats have climbed the NCAA Tournament seed line in the latest ESPN Bracketology update from Joe Lunardi.

The Wildcats are now projected as a 3-seed, coming in at No. 11 overall in Lunardi’s latest forecast for the NCAA Tournament field.

The win over Missouri not only helped solidify Kentucky’s position as a top seed but also reinforced their impressive résumé heading into postseason play. The Wildcats closed the regular season with a 21-10 record and 10-8 mark in SEC play, highlighted by a staggering eight wins over AP top-15 opponents — a feat that ties them with historic teams like 1978-79 Duke and 1992-93 Indiana for the most ever in a single season.

Kentucky’s rise in the bracket projections comes at the perfect time, with the SEC Tournament set to tip off this week. A deep run in the conference tournament could further boost their seeding and potentially position them as a 2-seed by Selection Sunday.

Despite some ups and downs throughout the season, Mark Pope’s squad is rounding into form at the right moment. With big-time wins and an improving defense, the Wildcats have made their case as a dangerous team heading into March Madness.

Kentucky fans will now turn their focus to the SEC Tournament, where the Wildcats will look to strengthen their case even further before the final bracket is revealed on Selection Sunday, March 16th.