Kentucky Trending Up as Health Returns and Confidence Grows
Don’t look now, but Kentucky is quietly piecing things together - and the rest of the SEC should take notice.
The Wildcats haven’t cracked the AP or Coaches Poll just yet - sitting just outside at No. 26 - but in ESPN’s latest Power Rankings, they’ve broken through at No. 22.
That’s their first appearance since falling out following the loss to Gonzaga earlier this month. Since then, it’s been nothing but wins, with double-digit victories over both Indiana and St.
John’s signaling a team that’s finally starting to find its rhythm.
And the biggest reason? Health.
For the first time this season, Kentucky is starting to resemble the team many expected back in the preseason. Saturday’s second-half performance against St. John’s offered a glimpse of what a full-strength Wildcats squad can do - and it looked every bit like a top-25 team.
Jayden Quaintance, the highly touted freshman and projected lottery pick, made his debut in that game and wasted no time making his presence felt on both ends of the floor. He brings size, athleticism, and a defensive edge that this team sorely needed.
Jaland Lowe, the lone true point guard on the roster, has only played six games, while Mouhamed Dioubate, the versatile Alabama transfer, has appeared in eight. But with all three now in the mix, the rotation is starting to take shape.
The biggest question mark going forward? Lowe’s shoulder.
It’s already been an issue more than once this season, and he sat out Tuesday’s win over Bellarmine. If he can stay on the floor, Kentucky’s ceiling rises significantly.
But it’s not just the return of the injured that’s fueling this surge - it’s also the resurgence of Kam Williams.
The Tulane transfer has flipped the switch in a big way. Through his first 10 games, Williams was averaging just 4.2 points and shooting a rough 19.4% from beyond the arc.
Not exactly the kind of production Kentucky was hoping for when they brought him in to stretch the floor. But over the last three games, he’s found his groove - averaging 15.3 points while knocking down a blistering 64.7% of his threes.
His breakout came in Tuesday’s win over Bellarmine, where he poured in 26 points on 8-of-10 shooting from deep. That kind of performance doesn’t just pad the stat sheet - it shifts momentum and changes the way defenses have to approach Kentucky’s spacing. Williams is playing with confidence, and it’s contagious.
Now comes the real test.
SEC play is right around the corner, and Kentucky’s upcoming schedule is no cakewalk. Six of their remaining opponents are ranked in ESPN’s Top 25, including a Jan. 3 road trip to No.
14 Alabama and a Jan. 27 showdown at No. 13 Vanderbilt.
That stretch will tell us a lot about who this Kentucky team really is - and whether their recent surge is sustainable or just a midseason blip.
Here’s a look at what’s ahead:
- Jan. 3: at No. 14 Alabama
- Jan. 7: Missouri
- Jan. 10: Mississippi State
- Jan. 14: at LSU
- Jan. 17: at No.
20 Tennessee
- **Jan.
21:** Texas
- **Jan.
24:** Ole Miss
- Jan. 27: at No.
13 Vanderbilt
- Jan. 31: at No.
16 Arkansas
- **Feb.
4:** Oklahoma
- **Feb.
7:** No. 20 Tennessee
- Feb. 14: at No. 24 Florida
- Feb. 17: No.
25 Georgia
- Feb. 21: at Auburn
- Feb. 24: at South Carolina
- **Feb.
28:** No. 13 Vanderbilt
- March 3: at Texas A&M
- March 7: No.
24 Florida
That’s a gauntlet, no question. But it’s also a golden opportunity for Kentucky to solidify its tournament resume - and they’re already trending in the right direction.
The Wildcats have climbed to No. 26 in the latest NET Rankings, and Joe Lunardi’s most recent Bracketology has them up to a No. 7 seed. That’s a notable jump from where they were just before the Indiana and St. John’s games, when they sat at No. 10 and No. 8, respectively.
In Lunardi’s current projection, Kentucky would face No. 10 seed Saint Louis in the opening round - in St. Louis, no less - with the winner likely facing No. 2 seed Purdue. A potential Sweet 16 matchup with No. 3 seed BYU looms in Houston.
Of course, there’s a lot of basketball to be played between now and then. But if Kentucky can stay healthy - especially Lowe - and if guys like Williams continue to step up, this team might just be rounding into form at the perfect time.
The pieces are there. The schedule is tough.
But the opportunity is real. Let’s see what the Cats do with it.