Where UK stands in new top 25 polls, NET & power rankings

The Kentucky Wildcats didn’t move much in the latest round of top 25 polls and power rankings.

Despite scoring an impressive win over Utah, Kentucky still isn’t getting much respect, which is to be expected for an 8-2 team that’s 0-2 vs. the best teams they’ve played so far. When your best wins are against Southern Illinois and UNC-Greensboro, it’s very hard to move up in the polls until they actually beat a legitimate team, like say North Carolina.

The Wildcats badly need to beat the Tar Heels this week to get their season back on track, and it would also lead to a big boost in the top 25 polls.

For now, the latest AP Poll has Kentucky still sitting at the No. 19 spot. North Carolina is up to No. 9 following their blowout win over No. 8 Gonzaga.

The Coaches Poll also has Kentucky standing pat at No. 18, while North Carolina is at No. 10.

Coaches Top 25 Poll

1. Kansas Jayhawks
2. Duke Blue Devils
3. Virginia Cavaliers
4. Tennessee Volunteers
5. Michigan Wolverines
6. Nevada Wolf Pack
7. Auburn Tigers
8. Michigan State Spartans
9. Gonzaga Bulldogs
10. North Carolina Tar Heels
11. Texas Tech Red Raiders
12. Florida State Seminoles
13. Virginia Tech Hokies
14. Ohio State Buckeyes
15. Buffalo Bulls
16. Mississippi State Bulldogs
17. Wisconsin Badgers
18. Kentucky Wildcats
19. Arizona State Sun Devils
20. Houston Cougars
21. Iowa Hawkeyes
22. Nebraska Cornhuskers
23. Marquette Golden Eagles
24. Maryland Terrapins
25. Furman Paladins

AP Top 25 Poll

1. Kansas Jayhawks
2. Duke Blue Devils
3. Tennessee Volunteers
4. Michigan Wolverines
5. Virginia Cavaliers
6. Nevada Wolf Pack
7. Auburn Tigers
8. Gonzaga Bulldogs
9. North Carolina Tar Heels
10. Michigan State Spartans
11. Florida State Seminoles
12. Texas Tech Red Raiders
13. Virginia Tech Hokies
14. Buffalo Bulls
15. Ohio State Buckeyes
16. Wisconsin Badgers
17. Mississippi State Bulldogs
18. Arizona State Sun Devils
19. Kentucky Wildcats
20. Marquette Golden Eagles
21. Houston Cougars
22. Indiana Hoosiers
23. Iowa Hawkeyes
24. Furman Paladins
25. Nebraska Cornhuskers

NCAA.com’s Power 36 ranking has Kentucky checking in at No. 33 after getting left out last week:

The Wildcats probably should have been in the Power 36 last week after losing in overtime to Seton Hall. But they didn’t have the resume win. Utah won’t do it for Kentucky since the Utes are in a rebuild. But at least Kentucky looked the part and played as well offensively at times as it has this season. Kentucky can still be a major player before season’s end.

Sports Illustrated has Kentucky checking in at No. 16.

The latest NBC Sports, The Athletic and CBS Sports rankings don’t include Kentucky. ESPN’s latest power rankings (only 16 teams) also do not include Kentucky.

The Wildcats did climb up to the No. 29 spot in the latest NCAA NET rankings.

While Kentucky is not highly thought of at the moment, they can change the narrative in a big way this weekend against North Carolina, who sits inside the top 10 in all of these rankings.