How has Kentucky fared as a No. 6 seed in past NCAA tournaments? It’s never happened before.
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For the first time, Kentucky men’s basketball will be a No. 6 seed in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, it was announced on Sunday.
While there are no data points to go off of in terms of UK’s past showings as a No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament, here’s a quick look at the history of No. 6 seeds in the Big Dance since 1985, when the tournament field expanded to 64 teams.
UK was also selected as a No. 6 seed in the 1982 NCAA Tournament, but that was before the tournament field expanded to its current field size.
The Cats lost their first game in that 1982 tournament to Middle Tennessee State.
History of No. 6 seeds in the NCAA Tournament
The record of No. 6 seeds in the NCAA Tournament since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985.
▪ Round 1: 81-47.
▪ Round 2: 53-58.
▪ Regional semifinals/Sweet 16: 15-20.
▪ Regional finals/Elite Eight: 3-12.
▪ Final Four: 2-1.
▪ Championship games: 1-1.
▪ Total record: 155-147.
▪ Final Four finishes: One championship, one second, one tie for third.
The lone national champion to emerge from the 6-seed line was Kansas in 1988.
The most recent No. 6 seed to reach the second week of the NCAA Tournament was Southern Cal in 2021. The Trojans eventually made the Elite Eight.
Next game
No. 6 Kentucky vs. No. 11 Providence
What: NCAA Tournament first round
When: 7:10 p.m. Friday
TV: CBS
Where: Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina.
This story was originally published March 12, 2023 at 6:54 PM.
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