Following another cover-your-eyes defensive performance in a 103-92 loss to Tennessee on Saturday night, Kentucky entered this week in dangerous territory.
The Wildcats woke up the morning after that second straight defeat in Rupp Arena at No. 102 in the KenPom defensive efficiency ratings , traditionally the sign of a college basketball team destined to go nowhere once the NCAA Tournament begins.
A look at the past 20 editions of March Madness shows that only four teams that finished the season outside the top 50 in that defensive efficiency stat made it to the Final Four. Put it another way, 76 of the 80 Final Four participants in that span were rated in the top 50 nationally in defense, and Kentucky is not terribly close to that range with the regular season quickly coming to an end.
Of the four teams that did overcome defensive shortcomings to make a March run — Miami (99th in defensive efficiency in 2023), VCU (78th in 2011), Marquette (109th in 2003) and Texas (58th, also in 2003) — none advanced to the national title game.