After last season, Nick Mingione predicted that Kentucky would be a top-10 team this year. While the Wildcats started strong at 18-3, they never reached those heights, as injuries and an inability to mesh caused that promising beginning to unravel.
Most recently, Kentucky faced No. 13 Florida on the road: they won the opener, blew a five-run lead in the eighth inning of the second game, and lost the decisive third. These were much-needed victories, as the Wildcats are barely clinging to an NCAA Tournament spot at this point in the season.
To make matters worse, Kentucky announced yesterday that it would cancel its midweek matchup with Northern Kentucky. That may seem minor, but given a recent NCAA statement, the Wildcats now face a must-win situation this weekend.
Self-Inflicted Wounds
In a memo to coaches, the Division I Baseball Oversight Subcommittee emphasized that cancellations should only happen due to weather. “It is not the intent or spirit of the game to adjust scheduled games in an attempt to strategically impact selection data or metrics,” the memo read. The subcommittee warned that doing so “will be discussed and could have a negative impact on the subcommittee’s evaluation of a team.” Still, the Bat Cats went ahead and did exactly that.
Since their 18-3 start, Kentucky has stumbled to a 12-15 conference record in a season that continues to deteriorate. After sweeping Alabama, the Wildcats lost seven of their next eight SEC series. Now only three games remain.
A Must-Win Series
Starting Thursday, Kentucky hosts the 34-18 Arkansas Razorbacks in a series they absolutely need to win. Lose two of three, and their NCAA Tournament hopes hang by a thread as a bubble team. Win two of three, and they’re safely in. In that context, canceling the Northern Kentucky game makes some sense.
A win over NKU wouldn’t help much, but a loss would be disastrous especially after Kentucky already dropped a midweek game to Morehead State (28-23). The precedent is clear.
In a statement, Kentucky’s athletic department explained: “Our team faced multiple extended delays over the weekend, extensive travel days, and challenging rest and recovery periods. We play a critically important conference series beginning Thursday that demands putting our student-athletes in the best position possible.”
Now, all that’s left is to see if the gamble pays off. The Arkansas series begins at 6:30 p.m. ET. For those unable to attend Kentucky Proud Park, the games will be broadcast on SEC Network+.
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