Kentucky climbs into the Top 25 of AP Poll after Tennessee sweep

For the first time since Dec. 1, Kentucky is a ranked team — at least in the AP Poll. The Cats are No. 25 in the AP Poll after the win over Tennessee. They just missed the cut in the Coaches Poll, coming in at No. 26.

Kentucky had just eight more votes than Alabama, which remains on the outside of the Top 25. For the second time this season, a loss to Kentucky cost Tennessee its ranking. The Vols fell from No. 25 to the group of others receiving votes. With 26 points, they are behind Alabama (72), Iowa (69), and NC State (31). Louisville is just ahead of Kentucky at No. 24.

Florida, Saturday’s opponent in Gainesville, is the highest-ranked team from the SEC, coming in at No. 14. The Gators rose three spots after a dominant win over Texas A&M. Vanderbilt is No. 19, dropping four spots after losing to Oklahoma at home. Arkansas is No. 21. Georgia and Auburn also received votes. Arizona remains the unanimous No. 1 team in the AP Top 25, followed by Michigan, Houston, Duke, and Iowa State.

The national media is still torn on whether or not the Cats are a Top 25 team. Andy Katz believes the Cats are a Top 15 team, putting them No. 14 in his latest rankings. Gary Parrish has the Cats outside the Top 25, at No. 26. His colleague Kyle Boone did not include Kentucky in his Top 25 projection. Jon Rothstein also has Kentucky at No. 26 in his Power 45 rankings. The Athletic’s CJ Moore still has Kentucky on his list of teams he’s “keeping an eye on” outside of the Top 25, listing the Cats fourth after NC State, Utah State, and Villanova. Kentucky did not make the cut in The Field of 68 or Jeff Goodman’s weekly rankings.

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Despite the win over Tennessee, Kentucky is holding steady at No. 28 in the NET Rankings. The wins over Oklahoma and Tennessee were nice, but didn’t move the needle since both were at home. Saturday’s game at Florida will be a good litmus test.

AP Poll – Feb. 9

Rank	Team	Record / Conference	Trend	Points
1	Arizona	23-0 Big 12	—	1475 (59)
2	Michigan	22-1 Big Ten	—	1416 (0)
3	Houston	21-2 Big 12	+5	1275 (0)
4	Duke	21-2 ACC	—	1254 (0)
5	Iowa State	21-2 Big 12	+2	1247 (0)
6	UConn	22-2 Big East	−3	1227 (0)
7	Nebraska	21-2 Big Ten	+2	1091 (0)
8	Illinois	20-4 Big Ten	−3	1060 (0)
9	Kansas	18-5 Big 12	+2	966 (0)
10	Michigan State	20-4 Big Ten	—	929 (0)
11	North Carolina	19-4 ACC	+3	863 (0)
12	Gonzaga	23-2 WCC	−6	803 (0)
13	Purdue	19-4 Big Ten	−1	785 (0)
14	Florida	17-6 SEC	+3	718 (0)
15	Virginia	20-3 ACC	+3	642 (0)
16	Texas Tech	17-6 Big 12	−3	549 (0)
17	St. John’s	18-5 Big East	+5	524 (0)
18	Saint Louis	23-1 A-10	+1	422 (0)
19	Vanderbilt	19-4 SEC	−4	375 (0)
20	Clemson	20-4 ACC	—	354 (0)
21	Arkansas	17-6 SEC	—	304 (0)
22	BYU	17-6 Big 12	−6	198 (0)
23	Miami (OH)	24-0 MAC	—	195 (0)
24	Louisville	17-6 ACC	—	182 (0)
25	Kentucky	17-7 SEC	—	80 (0)

Others receiving votes: Alabama 72, Iowa 69, NC State 31, Tennessee 26, Villanova 17, Utah St. 15, Georgia 6, Santa Clara 2, Auburn 2, Saint Mary’s 1.

Coaches Poll – Feb. 9

Rank	Team	Record	PTS	Chg
1	Arizona	23-0	774 (30)	–
2	Michigan	22-1	745 (1)	–
3	Houston	21-2	667	+5
4	Iowa State	21-2	658	+3
5	UConn	22-2	649	-2
6	Duke	21-2	643	-2
7	Illinois	20-4	563	-1
8	Nebraska	21-2	538	+1
9	Kansas	18-5	481	+2
10	Michigan State	20-4	478	–
11	Gonzaga	23-2	455	-6
12	Purdue	19-4	439	–
13	North Carolina	19-4	389	+5
14	Florida	17-6	381	+2
15	Virginia	20-3	332	+2
16	Texas Tech	17-6	318	-3
17	St. John’s	18-5	259	+5
18	Clemson	20-4	258	+1
19	Saint Louis	23-1	193	+1
20	Vanderbilt	19-4	181	-5
21	Arkansas	17-6	179	–
22	BYU	17-6	138	-8
23	Louisville	17-6	94	–
24	Miami (OH)	24-0	83	–
25	Iowa	18-5	71	+1

Schools Dropped Out: No. 25 Texas A&M

Others Receiving Votes: Kentucky 30; Alabama 24; Villanova 13; North Carolina State 13; Tennessee 10; Utah State 8; Texas A&M 7; Georgia 3; Santa Clara 1