Kentucky’s Five-Game SEC Surge Isn’t Enough for AP Poll Voters-Yet
Mark Pope’s Kentucky squad is doing just about everything you could ask of a team trying to climb back into national relevance. Five straight wins in the SEC, a gritty road victory in Knoxville, and a team that’s clearly trending in the right direction. But when the latest AP Top 25 dropped, the Wildcats were still stuck in the “Others Receiving Votes” category-effectively ranked No. 27-and looking up at not one, but two teams they’ve already beaten this season.
Let’s break that down.
Resume vs. Ranking: The Numbers Don’t Add Up
If you’re a fan of logic, the AP voters didn’t do you any favors this week. Kentucky, sitting at 14-6 overall with a 5-2 record in conference play, just beat Tennessee in Knoxville.
The Vols? They’re 13-6, 3-3 in the SEC, and coming off that home loss to the Cats.
Yet somehow, Tennessee received more AP votes than Kentucky.
Then there’s St. John’s.
The Red Storm slid into the No. 25 spot with a 15-5 record. But they also lost to Kentucky-on a neutral floor, no less.
So that’s two teams, both with head-to-head losses to the Wildcats, sitting ahead of them in the rankings.
This isn’t about fan frustration. It’s about a team that’s proving itself on the court and still not getting the nod. The AP poll seems to be holding onto Kentucky’s early-season missteps rather than recognizing what this group is becoming in real time.
A Defining Week Ahead
Now, the Wildcats head into what might be the most pivotal week of their season so far. They’ll face No.
18 Vanderbilt and No. 15 Arkansas-both on the road.
These are hostile environments, ranked opponents, and the kind of matchups that separate contenders from pretenders.
Go 1-1? That should be enough to push Kentucky back into the Top 25, especially if the performances are strong.
Go 2-0? That’s a statement, plain and simple.
But the margin for error is thin. A pair of blowouts, especially ones resembling that lopsided loss to Gonzaga earlier in the year, would undo much of the goodwill built over the past three weeks.
Momentum matters, and Kentucky’s finally got some. Now they have to protect it.
Wildcats Women Hold On Despite Slide
On the women’s side, the story is a bit different. Kentucky has hit a rough patch, dropping three straight-the longest losing streak of the Kenny Brooks era. But despite the skid, the Wildcats are still holding firm at No. 18 in the rankings.
That’s a testament to the respect this team has earned. Still, they’ll need to get back on track soon, and they’ll have a chance to do just that when they face Arkansas on February 1st. A win there could stabilize things and keep them in the national conversation.
AP Top 25 (Men’s) Snapshot
Here’s how the rankings shook out at the top:
- Arizona (20-0)
- UConn (19-1)
- Michigan (18-1)
- Duke (18-1)
- Nebraska (20-0)
- Gonzaga (21-1)
- Michigan State (18-2)
- Iowa State (18-2)
- Illinois (17-3)
- Houston (17-2)
The SEC is well-represented, with Arkansas (No. 15), Vanderbilt (No. 18), and Florida (No. 19) all cracking the Top 20. Kentucky’s absence stands out even more in that context-especially considering their head-to-head record against some of those teams.
Looking Ahead
Kentucky has done enough to be in the conversation. Now they get a chance to turn conversation into confirmation.
This week isn’t just about rankings-it’s about identity. If the Wildcats are truly back, this is the moment to prove it.