Kentucky stays in Top 5 of AP Poll after loss to Clemson, win over Gonzaga

Dec 7, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Kentucky Wildcats center Amari Williams (22) dunks the ball during the second half against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images

It was another wild week for AP Top 10 teams, and Kentucky’s big comeback win vs. Gonzaga helped offset the loss at Clemson. Kentucky is No. 5 in the latest AP Poll, down one spot from last week. The Cats are also No. 5 in the latest Coaches Poll.

Tennessee is the new No. 1 team in the country following Kansas’ losses to Creighton and Missouri. After losing at Duke, Auburn stayed at No. 2 and Iowa State jumped three spots to No. 3. Even though Kentucky beat Duke a few weeks ago, the Blue Devils are now ranked ahead of Kentucky at No. 4.

Gonzaga fell to No. 8 while Clemson is now in the poll at No. 16. Florida jumped up to No. 9, one of five SEC teams in the top ten and nine in the Top 25 overall. It really does just mean more.

Kentucky will be back in action on Wednesday vs. Colgate and Saturday vs. Louisville.

AP College Basketball Poll – Dec. 9

RK	TEAM	REC	PTS	TREND
1	Tennessee (58)	8-0	1544	+2
2	Auburn (3)	8-1	1438	–
3	Iowa State (1)	7-1	1424	+3
4	Duke	7-2	1295	+5
5	Kentucky	8-1	1284	-1
6	Marquette	9-1	1274	-1
7	Alabama	7-2	1126	+3
8	Gonzaga	7-2	1082	-1
9	Florida	9-0	1030	+4
10	Kansas	7-2	940	-9
11	Purdue	8-2	840	-3
12	Oregon	9-1	784	–
13	Oklahoma	9-0	567	+8
14	Michigan	8-1	522	+12
15	Houston	5-3	514	+2
16	Clemson	9-1	491	+10
17	Texas A&M	8-2	415	+5
18	UConn	7-3	394	+7
19	Ole Miss	8-1	379	+4
20	Wisconsin	8-2	307	-9
21	Michigan State	8-2	292	+5
22	Cincinnati	7-1	288	-8
23	San Diego State	6-2	276	+1
24	UCLA	8-1	229	+2
25	Mississippi State	8-1	179	+1

Others Receiving Votes: Baylor 150, Arizona St 143, Memphis 123, Missouri 119, Penn St. 90, Arkansas 89, Drake 67, Pittsburgh 62, Utah St. 57, Illinois 47, St. John’s 43, Maryland 39, Dayton 38, Creighton 32, Indiana 30, West Virginia 30, North Carolina 24, Georgia 21, Saint Mary’s 20, Texas 8, Rhode Island 3, Loyola Chicago 1.

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Kentucky in other National Rankings

Kentucky’s comeback win vs. Gonzaga earned plenty of praise from the national media, most of which kept the Cats in their top five:

John Fanta wrote that Kentucky’s comeback was proof that the program is in a new era under Pope:

Pope and his program have shown in five weeks that this is a new Kentucky — one that’s not just about recruiting buzz, NBA upside and John Calipari, but one that turns talk into results. This team owns wins over Duke and a Gonzaga team that returned 81% of its scoring. Andrew Carr was massive with 19 points and seven rebounds, Robinson (18 points, five assists) shoved some earlier struggles under the bright lights behind him and displayed why Pope was so bullish on his former BYU star who followed him to Lexington. Otega Oweh delivered 13 points and strong defense to secure one of the most impressive wins of the season to date.

For Kentucky to come off a loss at Clemson against a good Tigers team — one that’s ranked in our top 20 — fly out to Seattle and beat Gonzaga while being shorthanded with multiple injuries? That’s the type of win that both carries mileage on Selection Sunday with the committee and announces to the world that this is a new era.
John Fanta

The metrics are also impressed by the Cats. Kentucky is now top five (No. 5) in the NET rankings and top ten (No. 10) in KenPom. Kentucky is No. 8 in BartTorvik’s and Evan Miya’s ratings. You love to see it.