Monday Headlines: Kentucky in the New College Basketball Rankings (UPDATE)

Monday Headlines: Kentucky in the New College Basketball Rankings (UPDATE)

Following their breakthrough win at Auburn, the Kentucky Wildcats are moving on up!

The latest AP Top 25 Poll has Kentucky up five spots to 17th. The Alabama Crimson Tide are up to 13th. Ironically, Auburn was 13th last week (now 14th) when Kentucky got that signature win.

The Coaches Poll also has Kentucky at 17th, while Bama is 13th.

The NET rankings have Kentucky checking in at 22nd overall. Alabama is up to 5th, so the Cats have a chance to get a top-five NET win this week. Auburn is still at 7th, so that’s still a top-10 win. The LSU Tigers are down at 88th.

Kentucky did not make ESPN’s power rankings, which only do 16 teams, but did earn Team of the Week honors and are the first team out of the ranking, while Bama is 10th.

“After holding just one opponent to fewer than 65 points from Nov. 10 to Feb. 13, they limited both Ole Miss and Auburn to fewer than 65. Ole Miss scored just 0.87 points per possession, and Auburn clocked in at 0.88, two of Kentucky’s four best defensive performances all season,” said ESPN writer Jeff Borzello of the Wildcats’ impressive defensive performance.

The Athletic has Kentucky at 17th and Bama at 8th.

CBS Sports also has Kentucky at 22nd, while the Tide are 14th.

Andy Katz’s Power 36 has the Cats 13th and Bama 5th.

KenPom ranks Kentucky 21st, Alabama 6th, and LSU 78th.

EvanMiya has the Cats ranked 18th, the Tide 7th, and the Tigers 70th.

BartTorvik put Kentucky at 20th, Alabama 8th, and LSU 75th.

DRatings has Kentucky 18th, Bama 7th, and LSU 76th.

Where should the Cats be ranked this week? Send us your thoughts in the comments section!

Like the Bluegrass weather, Kentucky Basketball has been nothing short of a rollercoaster the last few weeks.

Before last Tuesday, the Wildcats were losers of three of four with all losses coming at Rupp Arena. But in the last week, Kentucky has played masterful defense and shown toughness in their two wins over Ole Miss as well as No. 13 Auburn.

The team’s win over Ole Miss was a must-win of the season and so was their victory over Auburn if the team had any hopes of a double-bye in next month’s SEC Tournament. Their resume is now much improved for the NCAA Tournament, and the Wildcats have momentum to ride as they prepare for this week’s slate of games.

First up, Kentucky will hit the road once more for a matchup at LSU on Wednesday. LSU narrowly beat South Carolina over the weekend, so they’ll have plenty of confidence. And while the Wildcats are significant favorites, no victory comes easy in SEC play.

On Saturday, head coach John Calipari and his team will host the No. 15 Alabama Crimson Tide. They’ve been an offensive juggernaut as of late, scoring at least 100 points in each of their last two games. Kentucky’s defense has been pretty good over the last week, but will really be tested on Saturday.

Looking at the analytics, the Wildcats are ranked 21st at KenPom (offense is 7th and defense is 80th), 18th at EvanMiya, 20th at BartTorvik, and 18th at DRatings.

Check back here later as we learn where Kentucky stands in the other college basketball rankings and analytics. And let us know where you think the Cats should be ranked!

Tweet(s) of the Day

His instincts are incredible.

What a turnaround.

Headlines

Game of Firsts: Two Wildcats Homer in First Career Game – UK Athletics

A pair of Kentucky freshmen clobbered homers in their first collegiate games to lead the Wildcats to a 9-3 series-sweeping road win at USC Upstate.

Kentucky Holds Off Florida on Sunday – UK Athletics

In front of more than 90 women’s basketball alumnae, Kentucky snapped it’s skid by beating Florida 81-77 at Rupp Arena.

Did Doubters Help Inspire Cats Against Auburn? – Vaught’s Views

They played arguably their best game of the season.

SC wins record 43rd straight SEC regular-season game – ESPN

Unstoppable.

SEC Tournament double-bye window has opened up for UK – KSR

Can’t let off the gas now.

What people are saying about the Kentucky win at Auburn – KSR

Did Saturday night shock you?

Ohtani won’t play in Dodgers’ spring training opener – ESPN

Should fans be concerned?

Kentucky is finalist for top-200 OL Mason Short – KSR

This would be nice for new offensive line coach Eric Wolford.

LeBron James says he hopes to end career as a member of Lakers – ESPN

Saying all of the right things.

Ohio State stuns No. 2 Purdue in interim coach’s debut – ESPN

Heck of a way to end what was a wild weekend in the sports world.