Monday Headlines: Kentucky in the College Basketball Rankings (UPDATE)

Kentucky slides a bit in the analytics but remains a top-five team in the polls.

Kentucky basketball has gotten a slight bump ahead of this week’s matchup with Ohio State in the CBS Sports Classic.

• The latest AP Top 25 Poll has Kentucky up at No. 4, which is pretty much their spot in all of this week’s normal rankings. The Tennessee Volunteers took home the top spot, followed by Auburn and Iowa State. Duke checked in at No. 5. No. 6 Alabama and No. 7 Florida also cracked the top 10.
• It’s the exact same top five in the Coaches Poll. No. 6 Florida and No. 7 Alabama are the other top-10 SEC squads.
• The CBS Sports Top 25 And 1 also has that top five.
• Wouldn’t you know it, Andy Katz’s Power 37 also has that top five.
• As does FOX Sports, so Kentucky went 5/5 on being the No. 4 team in these rankings.
• As for the analytics, KenPom has Kentucky at No. 11 and Ohio State at No. 36. The Buckeyes would be the fourth-best team the Cats have faced behind Duke, Gonzaga, and Clemson.
• DRatings has Kentucky at No. 10 and Ohio State at No. 52.
• Haslametrics has the Cats at No. 13 and the Buckeyes at No. 51.
• EvanMiya has Kentucky at No. 9 and Ohio State at No. 47.
• Finally, the latest NET rankings have the Wildcats at No. 7 and the Buckeyes at No. 35.

Where do you think the Cats should be ranked?

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The Kentucky Wildcats played two games last week, and both were a bit too close for comfort.

While the Wildcats managed to win both games against Colgate and Louisville, they managed to trail at one point in the second half against Colgate and gave up a season-high 85 points (in regulation) to Louisville.

Despite picking up the two wins, Kentucky dropped from No. 10 to No. 11 in KenPom rankings this week. The Wildcats remain ranked No. 10 via DRatings and fall from No. 7 to No. 13 in the Haslametrics rankings. EvanMiya has them at No. 9, which is only the fifth-best SEC team.

Mark Pope’s team will play just one game this week as they travel to New York City for the CBS Sports Classic. The Wildcats will be matched up with Ohio State in the second game of the day, with the first game featuring North Carolina and UCLA.

The Buckeyes enter the game with a 6-4 record and are coming off a blowout loss to No. 2 Auburn.

According to ESPN’s Basketball Power Index, the Wildcats have north of a 66% chance to win on Saturday. The point spread has yet to be released.

Following the CBS Sports Classic, Kentucky has a home matchup with Brown on New Year’s Eve before starting Southeastern Conference play in early January.

Check back here throughout the day for updates on where Kentucky stands in the official rankings!

Tweet of the Day

Can’t wait to see him rock the UK jersey.

Headlines

UK Gave Fans Early Christmas Present After Louisville Win – Vaught’s Views

Pope is the gift that keeps on giving.

Letters from former players inspire Kentucky to beat Louisville – Cats Pause

Kentucky’s current players got letters from former players on the importance of the Kentucky-Louisville basketball rivalry and may have helped spark the 93-85 victory.

Mark Pope was haunted by memories of his college loss to Louisville – KSR

After his first win over Louisville as Kentucky’s head coach, Mark Pope recalls his only loss to the Cardinals as a player and the panic attack he gave him Friday night.

Ashton Jeanty says he ‘should’ve walked away’ with Heisman – ESPN

Does he have a point?

Some thoughts on yet another Kentucky win over Louisville – KSR

Three straight for the Wildcats.

Best NFL draft fits, landing spots for Travis Hunter – USA Today

Several AFC teams atop the list.

Georgia Amoore scores 2,000th career point against Purdue – KSR

Special player.

Yankees-Cubs hit snag over possible Cody Bellinger trade – CBS Sports

More MLB rumors inside.

Film Review: Welcome Back Lamont Butler – Cats Illustrated

Incredible performance.

49ers likely to suspend Campbell for rest of season – CBS Sports

His days in San Fran have to be numbered.