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

Another big win for the Kentucky Wildcats has led to another boost in the latest top 25 polls and power rankings.

Thanks to a three-game winning streak — including wins over No. 15 North Carolina on a neutral court and at Louisville, who beat No. 8 Michigan State — Kentucky is getting more love nationally after being unranked in several rankings following their loss to Seton Hall.

The young Cats have made steady improvement since Game 1, and we’re really starting to see what this team is made of after back-to-back wins over quality teams.

The new AP Poll has the Cats checking in at No. 13. The new Coaches Poll has Kentucky rising up to the No. 14 spot.

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. Kentucky Wildcats
14. Ohio State Buckeyes
15. North Carolina Tar Heels
16. Marquette Golden Eagles
17. Mississippi State Bulldogs
18. NC State Wolfpack
19. Houston Cougars
20. Buffalo Bulls
21. Indiana Hoosiers
22. Wisconsin Badgers
23. Oklahoma Sooners
24. Nebraska Cornhuskers
25. Iowa Hawkeyes

Coaches Top 25 Poll

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

NCAA.com’s Power 36 ranking still has Kentucky checking in at No. 9.

Sports Illustrated has Kentucky checking in at No. 9. They also had Kentucky as one of five teams on the rise:

The Wildcats are finally starting to look like the team we expected in the preseason after earning back-to-back wins over North Carolina in Chicago and at rival Louisville. It’s no coincidence that this is occurring when Kentucky is starting to get big contributions from defensive standout Ashton Hagans and sharp-shooter Tyler Herro. Hagans had eight steals against the Tar Heels, and Herro scored 24 and shot 10 of 13 from the field against the Cardinals. Consistency from both of those freshmen is key for UK going forward, especially with the beginning of SEC play looming this weekend.

The latest NBC Sports Top 25 has Kentucky standing pat at the No. 12 spot.

CBS Sports has Kentucky at No. 16.

ESPN’s latest power rankings (only 16 teams) now have the Cats at No. 13 after being previously unranked.

John Calipari has the Wildcats back in the Power Rankings on the strength of a three-game winning streak that included a neutral-court win over Kentucky and a rivalry win at Louisville. Will they keep the momentum rolling in 2019? Circle this three-game stretch toward the end of January: at Auburn, vs. Mississippi State, vs. Kansas.

The Wildcats did climb up to the No. 11 spot in the latest NCAA NET rankings.

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