LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky’s inconsistent play this year has left the Wildcats without a chance to defend their national championship.

There was no at-large NCAA tournament bid for the young Kentucky squad that could not overcome injuries, sporadic guard play and a lack of leadership.

A 16-point loss in Friday’s must-win game in the Southeastern Conference tournament against Vanderbilt a few miles from the Commodores’ Nashville campus sealed the fate of the Wildcats, who were left out of the 68-team field.

Kentucky did get a No. 1 seed in the National Invitation Tournament.

The Wildcats will open on the road at Robert Morris on Tuesday in the 32-team NIT field. Kentucky athletic department spokesman DeWayne Peevy said the school is not hosting a first-round game because it did not bid on one because of conflicts at Rupp Arena.

“We did not place a bid to host the first round of the NIT due to limited staff availability to properly host a game at Memorial Coliseum,” Peevy said in a statement.