Lead Story: Kentucky Baseball Lands in Morgantown as a 3-Seed, Draws Wake Forest in Opener
Kentucky baseball punched one of the final tickets into the 64-team NCAA Tournament field on Monday, landing as the 3-seed in the Morgantown Regional hosted by national No. 16 West Virginia. The selection committee leaned heavily on the Wildcats' resume against quality opposition. According to committee chairman Michael Alford, Kentucky's 15-9 record against teams in the field and a series sweep of Alabama were the deciding data points. "When you look at teams that have won 15 games against teams in the tournament, most of them are hosting," Alford said.
Kentucky opens play Friday at noon ET on ESPN2 against Wake Forest, a Demon Deacons club built around power. Wake Forest carries a team OPS of .918 with five regulars above .900, and slugger Luke Costello leads the way in home runs, RBI and slugging. The rotation is anchored by Chris Levonas (sub-3.00 ERA, 100-plus strikeouts) and Matthew Dallas (2.45 ERA), but the staff thins out quickly behind that pair. Wake Forest's .969 fielding percentage also sits just below the Division I average.
The regional's other half features host West Virginia, the same Mountaineers team that bounced Kentucky 13-12 in last year's regional final. West Virginia brings a 3.82 team ERA, a .980 fielding percentage and a lineup paced by Gavin Kelly (.379, 1.160 OPS, 13 HR) and Paul Schoenfeld (.350, 24 SB). Aces Maxx Yehl (2.16 ERA) and Chansen Cole (110 K in 80 IP) headline a rotation that ranks among the nation's stingiest. The 4-seed Binghamton, led offensively by Matt Bolton (.349, 1.024 OPS, 42 BB/15 K), faces West Virginia in Friday's nightcap.
Quick Hits
- Texas wins individual NCAA women's golf crown. Farah O'Keefe captured the third individual title in Texas women's golf history at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa, while the Longhorns advanced into match play. It is a marquee finish for one of the SEC's newest programs.
- Mississippi State softball reaches first Women's College World Series. The Bulldogs' breakthrough trip to Oklahoma City marks the first WCWS appearance in program history, an enormous step for an MSU softball department building toward national contention.
- Tennessee, Ole Miss and Florida wrap historic golf runs. Tennessee sophomore Kyra Van Kan tied for fifth as an individual at the NCAA Championship. Ole Miss sophomore Kajsalotta Svarvar finished tied for 18th. No. 3 Florida finished 11th as a team, falling five shots shy of match play.
- Jackson Koivun claims second Ben Hogan Award. The Auburn standout repeats as college golf's top overall player, cementing his standing as the sport's premier individual talent.
- Sankey urges patience on CFP expansion. With SEC spring meetings opening, commissioner Greg Sankey told CBS Sports the league is not rushing to back the other Power Four conferences' push toward a 24-team College Football Playoff. "We have time," Sankey said, a notable contrast to public statements from the Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC.
Portal Watch
No new SEC entries or commitments were logged in the last 12 hours, but the spotlight remains on Iowa State transfer forward Milan Momcilovic. The 6-foot-8 wing is weighing three paths: stay in the NBA Draft, return to college at Kentucky, or land elsewhere. Momcilovic became the first player in college basketball history to lead Division I in both 3-point percentage (48.6%) and 3-pointers made (136) in the same season, and he is reportedly drawing NIL offers in the $5-6 million range if he withdraws. Louisville and St. John's are also in pursuit, but at the NBA Draft Combine Momcilovic himself acknowledged Kentucky as a strong stylistic match: "If I were to choose Kentucky, that would be a good fit for me." A decision is expected within the week.
Recruiting Buzz
No new commitments to report across the league overnight. SEC staffs remain focused on portal closers and late-cycle 2026 evaluations as spring meetings get underway.
Games to Watch
There are no SEC games on the schedule for Tuesday. The next major event on the calendar is the start of the NCAA Baseball Tournament regionals on Friday, where SEC programs will headline the field. Kentucky-Wake Forest at noon ET on ESPN2 will be among the morning's most-watched first-round matchups, with the Mississippi State softball team's WCWS opener also looming later in the week from Oklahoma City.
