Obviously they have to abide by seeding, but all it takes is bumping up or dropping down a team to get a lot of Made for TV matchups. Here are teams the NCAA put in our way in the second round since Cal's been here. Note not all those teams advanced. But they have consistently given us potential matchups that had extra drama.
2010: Texas (lost to Wake)
2011: West Virginia
2012: UConn (lost to Iowa St)
2014: Wichita State
2015: Cincinnati
2016: Indiana
2017: Wichita State
2018: Arizona (lost to Buffalo)
2019: Seton Hall (lost to Wofford)
2022: Murray St
2023: Kansas St
In 2010 Texas had top 10 talent but couldn't put it together. Same with 2012 UConn, which had beaten us the year before. 2011 WVU had beaten us the year before. 2015 Cincinnati and 2016 Indiana had the whole "UK won't play us" thing going on. Wichita State had revenge going for it. Seton Hall beat us that year, so that was probably advantage to us. Murray State is the only state school UK never plays.
First round we should be a 3 or a 4, so we'll face a 14 or 13. Can't think of any sexy matchups there. But the second round will be against a 6 or 5 (barring upset) and that's where it gets interesting. Memphis? Wisconsin?
2010: Texas (lost to Wake)
2011: West Virginia
2012: UConn (lost to Iowa St)
2014: Wichita State
2015: Cincinnati
2016: Indiana
2017: Wichita State
2018: Arizona (lost to Buffalo)
2019: Seton Hall (lost to Wofford)
2022: Murray St
2023: Kansas St
In 2010 Texas had top 10 talent but couldn't put it together. Same with 2012 UConn, which had beaten us the year before. 2011 WVU had beaten us the year before. 2015 Cincinnati and 2016 Indiana had the whole "UK won't play us" thing going on. Wichita State had revenge going for it. Seton Hall beat us that year, so that was probably advantage to us. Murray State is the only state school UK never plays.
First round we should be a 3 or a 4, so we'll face a 14 or 13. Can't think of any sexy matchups there. But the second round will be against a 6 or 5 (barring upset) and that's where it gets interesting. Memphis? Wisconsin?