The Kentucky Wildcats are the No. 1 team in the country and the top ranked team among all No. 1 seeds in the 2012 NCAA Tournament. Thus it's not surprising that Sports Illustrated has Kentucky headed to the Final Four in New Orleans after winning the South region.
Andy Staples writes, "Whether the Wildcats needed another loss to attain the proper mindset is highly debatable, but they got one. It would be shocking if this group didn't come into the tournament with a laser focus and punch its ticket to New Orleans."
Local fans will likely be rooting for Wichita State to crash the party and change the outcome listed above, but the Shockers are going to have a tough time in the South from the outset, starting with their second round game against Shaka Smart's VCU team. The Shockers had a great season, but it's likely to end sooner rather than later.
For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation's Selection Sunday StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub for a complete printable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on who was snubbed, who got the best bracket, and who will make it all the way to New Orleans and the Final Four.
