The madness has indeed arrived, heralded by daylight saving time and the ubiquitous green shamrocks. Selection Sunday has unveiled the teams set to compete in the NCAA Tournament, along with their intriguing matchups. Among those who secured a spot from the bubble is Kentucky, poised to face Troy in the Round of 64 on Friday.

Historically, the 3-14 matchup favors the Wildcats. Since 1985, a No. 14 seed has managed to upset a No. 3 seed only 23 times, resulting in a mere 14.74% win rate, according to Joe Boozell of NCAA.com. However, this is still twice as likely compared to a 2-15 matchup. It's worth recalling that Kentucky was ousted by Oakland in 2024 as a No. 3 seed.

Following a significant 99-70 loss to Alabama, bracket predictions for Kentucky are uncertain. The SEC has been highly competitive, making it challenging to discern true contenders. Head coach Mark Pope concludes his first regular season with Kentucky, bringing two prior NCAA Tournament appearances from BYU but no second-round advancements in his nine-year career. Pope's demeanor at the SEC Tournament conveyed experience and his ability to spin the loss against Alabama positively was inspiring, per Cameron Drummond of the Lexington Herald Leader.

“We talked about it since the beginning,” Pope said. “It’s either going to tear you to shreds or it’s going to make you better. I think teams are going to decide which is going to be their path. If you had the fortitude and togetherness to make it, it can make you better. So that’s the challenge.”

Victories against Oklahoma, a No. 9 seed facing UConn, suggest Kentucky's potential. Troy, however, enters with a winning streak in March, dominating opponents in conference tournament games. Coach Scott Cross aims to challenge Kentucky, making the Sun Belt champ a formidable opponent.

In other tournament news, Michigan State, securing a 2-seed, anticipates facing No. 15 seed Bryant in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Bryant, champion of the America East Conference, is coached by Phil Martelli Jr. after a strong finish to the season. Michigan State, too, gained momentum, winning eight straight Quad 1 games before a loss to Wisconsin. The game is scheduled for Friday, March 21, at 10 p.m. ET in Cleveland, Ohio, and will be broadcast on TBS. Tickets are available starting around $80.