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

The Kentucky Wildcats are back, at least in terms of the top 25 and power rankings from around the college hoops world.

Kentucky was either barely in the top 25 or even on the outside in every ranking going into Saturday’s matchup with previously-No. 9 North Carolina. But the Wildcats put on a show in Chicago and handled the Tar Heels en route to an 80-72 win.

That has John Calipari’s squad making a big jump in the latest rankings ahead of their clash with the Louisville Cardinals.

Kentucky made a three-spot climb in the new AP Poll, checking in at the No. 16 spot. Oddly enough, North Carolina is No. 14 here.

The latest Coaches Poll has Kentucky at No. 15, a three-spot jump from last week.

Louisville is unranked in both major polls but receiving votes.

AP Top 25 Poll

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

Coaches Top 25 Poll

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

NCAA.com’s Power 36 ranking has Kentucky checking in at No. 9, a huge jump from No. 33 last week:

Now, finally, we’re seeing the Kentucky projected earlier in the season. Keldon Johnson has settled into being the scoring stud the Wildcats needed. He scored 21 points in the win over North Carolina in Chicago. P.J. Washington has delivered as well, and this team is getting the needed pestering defensive play out of point guard Ashton Hagans (eight steals against the Tar Heels).

Sports Illustrated has Kentucky checking in at No. 16.

The latest NBC Sports Top 25 has Kentucky rising to the No. 12 spot after being previously unranked.

CBS Sports has Kentucky at No. 18 after being previously unranked.

ESPN’s latest power rankings (only 16 teams) also do not include Kentucky.

The Wildcats did climb up to the No. 22 spot in the latest NCAA NET rankings. Louisville is No. 17 in this ranking, so at least in terms of NET, Saturday’s clash with the Cardinals will be a top-25 matchup.

We will add in the latest Coaches Top 25 Poll when it comes out later today.