Kentucky’s 2-0 start was enough to keep the Wildcats in the national conversation, but not enough to hold their spot in the AP Top 25.
After opening the season with wins over Manhattan and James Madison, Mark Pope’s team slid one place to No. 24 in the latest AP poll. Kentucky entered the year at No. 23, so the first official week of college basketball brought a small step back rather than a bump forward.
That ranking will be on the screen Tuesday when the Wildcats meet Bill Self and Kansas in the Champions Classic.
Kansas, meanwhile, climbed after beating Fordham and Middle Tennessee. The Jayhawks moved up two spots to No. 15.
The updated AP Top 25 also shows just how crowded Kentucky’s upcoming schedule is with ranked opponents. The Wildcats are set to face Florida at No.
1, Virginia at No. 6, Texas at No.
7, Louisville at No. 10, Tennessee at No.
11, Alabama at No. 18, Arkansas at No. 19, and Vanderbilt at No.
Here is the full AP Top 25:
Florida (2-0)
Duke (2-0)
Illinois (2-0)
UConn (2-0)
Michigan State (2-0)
Virginia (3-0)
Texas (2-0)
Houston (2-0)
UCLA (2-0)
Louisville (2-0)
Tennessee (1-0)
Arizona (1-1)
St. John’s (2-0)
Gonzaga (2-0)
Kansas (2-0)
Texas Tech (2-0)
Miami (1-1)
Alabama (2-0)
Arkansas (1-1)
Michigan (1-1)
USC (2-0)
Vanderbilt (2-0)
BYU (2-0)
Kentucky (2-0)
Nebraska (2-0)
The news was even harsher in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, where Kentucky fell three spots and dropped out of the top 25 altogether. The Wildcats are No. 26 there, sitting as the top vote-getter with 101 points, just behind BYU at No. 25 with 102.
The Coaches Poll top 25:
Florida
Duke
Illinois
UConn
Michigan State
Virginia
Texas
Houston
Tennessee
Louisville
Arizona
Gonzaga
St. John’s
Kansas
UCLA
Alabama
Texas Tech
Miami
Vanderbilt
Arkansas
Michigan
USC
Iowa State
Nebraska
BYU
Others Receiving Votes
Kentucky 101; Memphis 34; Saint Louis 23; Purdue 12; Indiana 12; Texas A&M 11; Baylor 9; North Carolina 6; Marquette 6; West Virginia 5; Missouri 4; LSU 3; Wisconsin 1; Villanova 1; Nevada 1;
A few national outlets were a little kinder to Kentucky entering Week 2. James Fletcher III of On3 kept the Wildcats at No. 23 in his preseason slot, while another ranking had Kentucky at No. 22 after last week’s No. 23 placement.
Fletcher noted that Kentucky “opened the season with a pair of wins over lesser competition at home after starting No. 23 in the preseason AP Poll. They took down Manhattan in the season opener before a close matchup against James Madison over the weekend.
“The Wildcats will get their first chance against high-major competition on Tuesday when they face Kansas in the State Farm Champions Classic. After that, they will get another buy game at home against Northern Arizona.”
That same outlet also pointed to the James Madison game as a warning sign, writing, “Kentucky got a scare on Friday when James Madison proceeded to knock down 15 3-pointers during the Wildcats’ 89-80 win. All is good for now for Mark Pope’s team, but a matchup against Kansas looms.”
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For the Wildcats, the matchup with Kansas is more than just another November game. It is a chance to measure themselves against a perennial power in a setting built for high-end competition, with the kind of spotlight that can tell a lot about where a team stands and where it still needs work. Even in a season that is still just getting started, this is the sort of night that can carry real weight. [Read more 🡒]
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