Not all teams enter the NCAA Tournament carrying confidence and momentum.That won’t be an issue for the Kentucky Wildcats.”I think they’ll feel pretty good,” UK head coach Craig Skinner said.The Cats (26-5, 14-3 Southeastern Conference) enter the postseason with a No. 13 seed and the right to host yet again. They’ve won eight times in nine matches ahead of a first-round matchup with Oakland (22-9, 12-2 Horizon League) at 7:30 p.m. ET in Memorial Coliseum. The victor will advance to face either Ohio State or Lipscomb at 7 p.m. on Saturday.”With 26 wins and beating a lot of good teams this year, playing 10 matches that are already in this tournament I think gives us an understand and appreciation of the level we need to play at to advance,” Skinner said, “We’ve been practicing really well and I think the energy and the confidence is in a good place.”The confidence is no accident, as UK has rebounded successfully after two losses in three matches against LSU and Texas A&M. Since then, the Cats have lost just five sets in their last 30 tries to claim the best NCAA Tournament seed in school history behind SEC Libero of the Year Jackie Napper and four more all-league performers.”It’s a tribute to our players, who had a great regular season and several all-conference award winners and just to me and especially our young players the most exciting time to be participating in this sport,” Skinner said. “So we’re excited to have Oakland here and especially Lipscomb and Ohio State competing in the first match and with the winners competing Saturday. I just can’t wait to get on the floor and get after it.”Skinner and the Cats are excited, but that doesn’t mean they don’t fully grasp the challenge ahead of then. Oakland has four players averaging better than 2.3 digs per set, representing a departure from the typical first-round opponent for a nationally seeded team.”Typically a team like Oakland has a couple players that dominate,” Skinner said. “Oakland’s a team that has four or five players that really make an impact in the match and so we have to have a great game plan to know what they’re going to do against us and how to defend their players because they are uniquely balanced I think in that regard.”Fortunately for the Cats, they’ll be performing in front of their home crowd. Other coaches might prefer to hit the road and play free of the added pressure that comes from playing in front of their home fans, but Skinner is eager for the chance to host another big crowd in Memorial.”Some people might say it’s a disadvantage because you’ve got a lot of distractions at home,” Skinner said. “I think it’s a great advantage because we do have our home fans.”