Where UK stands in new college hoops top 25 polls and power rankings

After going 2-0 last week, the Kentucky Wildcats didn’t move much in the latest college basketball rankings.

Even with several teams ahead of Kentucky going down last week, the Wildcats didn’t get much love from voters this week, and you can’t blame them. Kentucky didn’t look sharp in a 13-point win over Winthrop or a 15-point win over Tennessee State. Those two teams are 167th and 280th respectively in KenPom’s ratings.

The latest AP Top 25 Poll has Kentucky checking in at the No. 10 spot again. However, Kentucky moved up to the No. 9 spot in the latest Coaches Poll.

Last week, both the Coaches Poll and AP Poll had Kentucky ranked No. 10.

Coaches 25 Poll

1. Gonzaga Bulldogs
2. Kansas Jayhawks
3. Duke Blue Devils
4. Virginia Cavaliers
5. Michigan Wolverines
6. Nevada Wolf Pack
7. Tennessee Volunteers
8. Michigan State Spartans
9. Kentucky Wildcats
10. Tie between Auburn Tigers and Kansas State Wildcats
11. N/A
12. Virginia Tech Hokies
13. North Carolina Tar Heels
14. Florida State Seminoles
15. Iowa Hawkeyes
16. Ohio State Buckeyes
17. Texas Longhorns
18. Purdue Boilermakers
19. Texas Tech Red Raiders
20. Buffalo Bulls
21. Oregon Ducks
22. Wisconsin Badgers
23. Villanova Wildcats
24. Clemson Tigers
25. Mississippi St. Bulldogs

AP Top 25 Poll

1. Gonzaga Bulldogs
2. Kansas Jayhawks
3. Duke Blue Devils
4. Virginia Cavaliers
5. Nevada Wolf Pack
6. Tennessee Volunteers
7. Michigan Wolverines
8. Auburn Tigers
9. Michigan State Spartans
10. Kentucky Wildcats
11. North Carolina Tar Heels
12. Kansas State Wildcats
13. Virginia Tech Hokies
14. Florida State Seminoles
15. Iowa Hawkeyes
16. Ohio State Buckeyes
17. Texas Longhorns
18. Oregon Ducks
19. Purdue Boilermakers
20. Texas Tech Red Raiders
21. Buffalo Bulls
22. Wisconsin Badgers
23. Villanova Wildcats
24. Maryland Terrapins
25. Mississippi St. Bulldogs

NCAA.com has Kentucky checking in at No. 12 in their latest Power 36 rankings.

Kentucky (12): I’m holding Kentucky steady here in the top dozen. Keldon Johnson is busting out and Reid Travis is boarding. All things are heading in the right direction since the Duke debacle. We’ll learn a lot more about this squad later in December against North Carolina in Chicago and at rival Louisville.

ESPN still has Kentucky at the No. 11 spot

After Friday’s game, John Calipari summed up his thoughts: “We’re not a very good team right now.” The Wildcats have won five in a row, but they haven’t been overwhelming in any of the five. Saturday’s game against UNC-Greensboro could be a sneaky one.

CBS Sports moved Kentucky up to the No. 8 spot:

PJ Washington finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds in Wednesday’s win over Winthrop. The Wildcats have won four straight since losing to Duke.

Sports Illustrated has Kentucky at No. 10 in their new rankings.

NBC Sports has Kentucky at No. 14, the lowest ranking the Wildcats received this week.

Overall, Kentucky’s average ranking is at 11 this week. They do get a sneak test against a 6-1 UNC-Greensboro team this Saturday. A good performance there could boost Kentucky’s ranking next week.

Along with games against Utah and Seton Hall in the coming weeks, Kentucky could rise several more spots before the big mid-December clash with North Carolina, who is currently ranked in the 8-13 range of this week’s rankings.