Just a few weeks ago, Kentucky men’s basketball looked like a team teetering on the edge. A 35-point beatdown at the hands of Gonzaga had fans and analysts alike wondering if the season was already slipping away. But fast forward to now, and the Wildcats are flipping the script-rattling off four straight wins and looking every bit like the top-25 team many believed they could be.
The Wildcats are getting healthy, and it’s showing
The biggest shift? Health.
For the first time all season, Kentucky is close to full strength, and it’s making a world of difference. ESPN’s Jeff Borzello slotted Kentucky back into his Power Rankings at No. 22, and while the number is notable, it’s the reasoning that really matters.
He acknowledged what Kentucky fans have been saying all along: the injuries weren’t just an excuse-they were the story.
With Jayden Quaintance, Jaland Lowe, and Mouhamed Dioubate back in the rotation, Kentucky isn’t just surviving-they’re dictating pace, controlling games, and playing with the kind of confidence that was sorely missing earlier in the season. When those three are on the floor, the Wildcats look like a complete team.
And that’s exactly what they were in the second half against St. John’s, when they imposed their will instead of reacting to the game around them.
It turns out that having your projected lottery pick (Quaintance) and your only true point guard (Lowe) available makes a difference. Go figure.
Kam Williams is changing the math
While the return of key players has been the headline, there’s another storyline quietly gaining momentum-Kam Williams’ resurgence.
Williams’ early-season numbers were rough. Through 10 games, he was averaging just 4.2 points and shooting under 20% from beyond the arc.
But over the last three? He’s flipped the switch, averaging 15.3 points and knocking down nearly 65% of his threes.
That includes a 26-point explosion against Bellarmine that turned heads.
This version of Kam Williams changes the equation for Kentucky. A healthy roster is one thing.
A healthy roster with a wing who can stretch the floor and shoot 40% from deep on volume? That’s the kind of piece that turns a good team into a March problem.
The national spotlight is creeping back in
The AP Poll is still on its holiday break, so Kentucky hasn’t officially cracked the Top 25 just yet. But that’s likely to change soon-especially with what’s coming next.
The Wildcats are about to enter the teeth of their schedule, starting with a road test at Alabama on January 3, followed by a home game against Missouri on January 7. These aren’t just resume-builders.
They’re measuring sticks. If Kentucky can walk into Tuscaloosa with a full roster and compete-or even steal a win-the conversation will shift quickly from rankings to potential.
The national media is watching again. Now it’s up to Mark Pope and his squad to give them something to keep watching. Because if this team stays healthy and Kam Williams keeps shooting like this, the ceiling is a lot higher than just “top 25.”