Kentucky falls in AP, Coaches Polls entering NCAA Tournament

Now that the NCAA Tournament bracket is set, the polls are especially irrelevant, but there are some updates to pass along. Kentucky is down in both polls following the SEC Tournament. The Cats are No. 18 in the new AP Poll, down three spots from last week. They fell from No. 19 to No. 21 in the Coaches Poll.

The top six of both polls are the same: Duke, Houston, Florida, Auburn, St. John’s, and Tennessee. Alabama is No. 7 in the AP Poll. Kentucky is the next SEC team ranked, at No. 18, followed by Texas A&M (No. 19) and Missouri (No. 23). That’s seven SEC teams in total, with Ole Miss among the group outside the Top 25 receiving votes. A record 14 teams made the NCAA Tournament field of 68.

Louisville, which received a No. 8 seed from the Selection Committee, is No. 10 in the AP Poll, which I’m sure Card Nation has a few feelings about.

Of course, all that matters now is the path ahead in the NCAA Tournament. Illinois, Kentucky’s potential second-round opponent, is No. 29 in the AP Poll. Tennessee, of course, is No. 6, Houston No. 2.

AP College Basketball Poll – March 17

1. Duke (49)
2. Houston (6)
3. Florida (2) +1
4. Auburn (2) -1
5. St. John’s +1
6. Tennessee +2
7. Alabama -2
8. Michigan State -1
9. Texas Tech
10. Louisville +3
11. Maryland
12. Clemson -2
13. Wisconsin +5
14. Michigan +8
15. Iowa State -3
16. Memphis
17. BYU
18. Kentucky -3
19. Texas A&M -5
20. Saint Mary’s -1
21. Arizona
22. Purdue -2
23. Missouri -2
24. Gonzaga
25. Oregon -2

Others Receiving Votes: Drake 107, Marquette 69, UC San Diego 57, Illinois 55, VCU 28, Creighton 28, Mississippi 13, McNeese St. 4, UConn 4, Colorado St. 4, Kansas 3, High Point 3, UCLA 3, Akron 3.

USA Today Coaches Poll – March 16

Rank	Team	Record	PTS	Chg
1	Duke	31-3	764 (25)	–
2	Houston	30-4	731 (2)	–
3	Florida	30-4	715 (3)	+1
4	Auburn	28-5	672 (1)	-1
5	St. John’s	30-4	643	–
6	Tennessee	27-7	634	–
7	Michigan State	27-6	568	-1
8	Alabama	25-8	556	–
9	Texas Tech	25-8	498	–
10	Wisconsin	26-9	445	+4
11	Louisville	27-7	426	+2
12	Maryland	25-8	401	-1
13	Clemson	27-6	378	-3
14	Iowa State	24-9	361	-2
15	Michigan	25-9	329	+6
16	Memphis	29-5	272	+1
17	BYU	24-9	235	+1
18	Texas A&M	22-10	233	-2
19	Saint Mary’s	28-5	209	-4
20	Arizona	22-12	177	+4
21	Kentucky	22-11	164	-2
22	Purdue	22-11	154	-2
23	Gonzaga	25-8	93	+9
24	Missouri	22-11	90	-2
25	Marquette	23-10	68	-2

Schools Dropped Out: No. 25 Illinois

Others Receiving Votes: Drake 46; UC San Diego 37; Oregon 35; VCU 33; Creighton 33; Illinois 27; Kansas 16; UConn 12; Baylor 7; Colorado State 6; UCLA 3; Ole Miss 2; Vanderbilt 1; North Carolina 1;