The Kentucky Wildcats are no longer No. 1.
It’s been the best of times and the worst of times through just three games for Kentucky, who beat No. 1 Michigan State in New York, only to fall at home to an unranked mid-major in Evansville just a week later. That’s made Kentucky one of the toughest teams to rank this week.
The new AP Top 25 Poll has the Wildcats checking in at No. 9. A good argument could have been made for them to drop out of the top 10, but that win over then-No. 1 Michigan State still carries a lot of clout.
The Duke Blue Devils are the new No. 1 team, followed by the Louisville Cardinals, Michigan State Spartans, Kansas Jayhawks and North Carolina Tar Heels.
AP Top 25 Poll
Others Receiving Votes: Florida St. 91, Florida 67, LSU 61, Saint Mary’s (Cal) 55, Evansville 43, Oklahoma 29, Vermont 11, Michigan 11, Marquette 11, Purdue 11, Butler 10, Mississippi St. 9, Virginia Tech 7, West Virginia 6, Providence 5, Wisconsin 5, Liberty 4, Arkansas 3, Missouri 2, UConn 2, Southern Cal 2, New Mexico 2, San Diego St. 2, Dayton 1.
And Katz’s latest Power 36 has Kentucky down at No. 11.
CBS Sports also has the Wildcats down to No. 11.
ESPN BPI has the Wildcats dropping down to No. 12.
KenPom dropped Kentucky down to No. 5.
The good thing is none of this really matters in November, as there’s still essentially a full season of hoops left to be played. But it’s become evident early on that these Wildcats are capable of beating just about anyone but also losing to anyone as well.