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SEC Basketball: Key takeaways from LSU’s last-second win over Kentucky

By Tristan Freeman

LEXINGTON, KY - FEBRUARY 12: Marlon Taylor #14 of the LSU Tigers dunks the ball during an alley-oop against the Kentucky Wildcats in the first half at Rupp Arena on February 12, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY - FEBRUARY 12: Marlon Taylor #14 of the LSU Tigers dunks the ball during an alley-oop against the Kentucky Wildcats in the first half at Rupp Arena on February 12, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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ORLANDO, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 25: Naz Reid #0 of the LSU Tigers attempts a shot during the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at HP Field House on November 25, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 25: Naz Reid #0 of the LSU Tigers attempts a shot during the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at HP Field House on November 25, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /

3. Bracketology impact of this result

Before this game started on Tuesday, we released our latest Field of 68 Bracketology projections. Kentucky was slotted as a two seed in the Midwest Region, while LSU received a five seed in the East. Region. Of course, the Wildcats won’t get affected by this loss, although they’re in a battle for a possible one seed and this result doesn’t help.

As for the Tigers, this win is huge for their resume for multiple reasons. Not only does it finally add meat to their overall resume with a top-10 win, it brings them closer to a top-4 protected seed. In that case, LSU would possibly get slotted closer to home in the South Region rather than being forced out west, where some east coast teams will have no choice but to go there.

Two other teams are delighted by LSU’s win over Kentucky – Houston and Florida State. Both teams are projected as a three and six seed accordingly, and have a signature win over LSU. So as the Tigers rise, the resumes for those two improves at the same time.

Another team who has to be happy about this result is the Gonzaga Bulldogs, a projected one seed out west. Assuming that Duke, Virginia and Tennessee are near locks at the top, the Bulldogs are the most vulnerable to get pushed out. Kentucky is one of them but lost a chance at a big win by losing this one. They’ll have to beat Tennessee at some point to warrant a case to be a one seed themselves.

dark. Next. SEC Power Rankings

This was a huge win for LSU that solidifies them as a major threat in both the SEC and the NCAA Tournament. Kentucky should still be just fine but now the No. 1 ranked Vols have to worry about another team gunning for the top spot in the conference.

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