Kentucky Wildcats Surge in SEC, Boost NCAA Tournament Resume

Kentucky basketball team has 17-7 record and 8-3 in SEC with six Quad 1 wins so far this season.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team has turned around their season after a slow 5-4 start, winning 8 of their last 9 games to surge into second place in the SEC standings with an 8-3 conference record and 17-7 overall. The Wildcats have built an impressive NCAA Tournament resume, including 6 Quad 1 wins over ranked opponents like Indiana, St. John's, LSU, Tennessee (twice), and Arkansas.

Why it matters

Kentucky's strong performance over the last month has put them firmly in contention for an NCAA Tournament bid after their early-season struggles. With a NET ranking and SOR that have improved significantly, the Wildcats are now well-positioned to make the Big Dance, which is crucial for one of college basketball's most storied programs.

The details

After starting SEC play 0-2, Kentucky has won 8 of their last 9 games to improve to 17-7 overall and 8-3 in the SEC, good for second place in the conference standings. The Wildcats have built an impressive NCAA Tournament resume, including 6 Quad 1 wins over ranked opponents Indiana, St. John's, LSU, Tennessee (twice), and Arkansas. Kentucky's only losses are to Gonzaga and Missouri, with the latter being the only "bad" loss on their schedule so far.

  • The 2025-2026 Kentucky Wildcats season is 24 games in, with just 7 games left before the SEC Tournament and Selection Sunday.
  • Kentucky started SEC play 0-2 against Alabama and Missouri, putting their NCAA Tournament hopes in jeopardy.
  • Over the last month, Kentucky has won 8 of their last 9 games to surge into second place in the SEC standings with an 8-3 conference record.

The players

Kentucky Wildcats

The men's basketball team from the University of Kentucky, one of the most successful and storied programs in college basketball history.

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What’s next

Kentucky will have 5 more Quad 1 opportunities in their final 7 regular season games, giving them a chance to further bolster their NCAA Tournament resume before postseason play.

The takeaway

Kentucky's turnaround over the last month has put them firmly in contention for an NCAA Tournament bid, demonstrating the team's resilience and ability to overcome early-season struggles. The Wildcats' impressive collection of Quad 1 wins against ranked opponents has them well-positioned to make the Big Dance, a crucial achievement for one of college basketball's most storied programs.