What is Kentucky men's basketball's history as a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament?

Cameron Drummond, Lexington Herald-Leader on Mar 16, 2025

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LEXINGTON, Ky. — Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats (22-11 overall) will be a No. 3 seed in the 2025 men’s NCAA Tournament.

The Wildcats, a No. 3 seed in the Midwest Regional (Indianapolis), will begin March Madness with a round-of-64 matchup against No. 14 seed Troy (23-10) on Friday in Milwaukee.

The Trojans went 13-5 in regular season games in the Sun Belt Conference this season, and won that league’s conference tournament as the No. 3 seed.

But with regard to the national postseason, what has getting a No. 3 seed in March Madness meant historically for the Cats?

Since the men’s NCAA Tournament expanded its field size in 1985, UK has been a No. 3 seed on three other occasions.

Here’s a look at how UK fared in each of its previous NCAA Tournaments as a No. 3 seed.

History of UK men’s basketball as a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament

The Wildcats were given a No. 3 seed in three previous NCAA Tournaments — 1994, 1999 and 2024 — since the event expanded in 1985.

In 1994, Rick Pitino’s Wildcats got off to an 11-1 start and later romped to the SEC Tournament title. UK won each of its conference tournament games that year by at least 12 points.

Guided by leading scorers Tony Delk (16.6 points) and Rodrick Rhodes (14.6), Kentucky made it to the round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament. UK knocked off Tennessee State by 13 points in its first-round game, but the Cats lost by 12 points in the round of 32 to No. 6 seed Marquette.

Kentucky led the nation in the 1993-94 season in 3-pointers made (301, tied with Arkansas for the most) and attempted (857).

In 1999, Tubby Smith’s second season as the UK coach was full of success. The Cats spent 16 of the season’s 18 editions of the AP poll ranked in the top 10. Scott Padgett (12.6 points) and Heshimu Evans (11.8) were Kentucky’s leading scorers.

UK also won the SEC Tournament this year, with a trio of double-digit wins against Ole Miss, Auburn and Arkansas to win the conference showcase in Atlanta.

In that March Madness, UK reached the Elite Eight: UK knocked off New Mexico State, Kansas (in overtime) and Miami (Ohio) before falling to a Michigan State team led by Morris Peterson and Mateen Cleaves in the Midwest Region finals.

And last year in 2024, John Calipari’s final Kentucky team also was a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

This Kentucky team featured three players — Reed Sheppard, Rob Dillingham and Antonio Reeves — that were selected in last summer’s NBA draft, with Reeves (20.2 points) and Dillingham (15.2) leading the way in the scoring column. Sheppard, of course, was the highest draft pick of the three, being selected No. 3 overall.

But despite plenty of high-scoring success in the regular season, Kentucky stumbled badly in postseason play. The Cats went one-and-done in both the SEC Tournament and the NCAA Tournament, with Calipari’s coaching tenure in Lexington coming to an end after UK suffered an upset loss to No. 14 seed Oakland in the round of 64 in Pittsburgh.

History of No. 3 seeds in the NCAA Tournament

Since the NCAA Tournament expanded in 1985, No. 3 seeds have gone a combined 287-152 (65.4%) in tournament games and have won the national championship on four occasions. Those were Michigan (1989), Syracuse (2003), Florida (2006) and UConn (2011).

All-time in round-of-64 games, No. 3 seeds have a 133-23 (85.3%) record against No. 14 seeds.

Sure enough, the last No. 14 seed to upset a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament was Oakland versus UK last year. Oakland was the only No. 14 seed to defeat a No. 3 seed in last year’s March Madness.

Only two No. 14 seeds have upset No. 3 seeds since 2016.

In addition to Oakland’s stunner over UK last year, the other No. 14 seed over No. 3 seed in recent times was Abilene Christian over Texas in the 2021 NCAA Tournament.

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