The Kentucky Wildcats recently faced one of the toughest road stretches of their non-conference schedule, taking on two formidable opponents in the ACC/SEC Challenge and a high-profile matchup against Gonzaga. Kentucky entered this road trip as the #4 team in the nation, undefeated, and with a strong win against the Duke Blue Devils. However, they were tested in two very different ways: a loss to a tough Clemson team on the road and a dramatic overtime win against Gonzaga in Seattle.
The Wildcats began the trip with high expectations but suffered a tough 81-71 loss to Clemson in a hostile environment. The Tigers were already a highly regarded team and were receiving votes in the rankings, but now, following their victory over Kentucky, Clemson is expected to crack the top 25. Clemson’s victory over Kentucky is significant because of their strong performance, as they are currently ranked 12th in the NET and 16th in KenPom, bolstering their resume for a potential ranking jump.
Despite the loss to Clemson, Kentucky’s thrilling overtime victory against Gonzaga, a top-tier opponent, has kept their hopes for a high ranking alive. After a sluggish first-half performance against Gonzaga, Kentucky came back to stun the Bulldogs and secure an 90-89 victory in a nail-biting overtime. This win against Gonzaga adds to their growing list of top-10 victories, marking another statement win for head coach Mark Pope’s squad.
To assess where Kentucky will land in the AP Top 25, let’s take a closer look at how the other top teams performed this week:
1. Kansas – Suffered two losses, one to Creighton and another to Missouri.
2. Auburn – Lost to #9 Duke but secured a win over Richmond.
3. Tennessee – Defeated Syracuse, but the win came against a lower-tier opponent.
4. Kentucky – Split their two games, losing to Clemson but defeating #7 Gonzaga.
5. Marquette – Lost to #6 Iowa State but bounced back with a win over #11 Wisconsin.
6. Iowa State – Beat #5 Marquette and Jackson State.
7. Gonzaga – Lost to #4 Kentucky in an overtime thriller.
8. Purdue – Lost to Penn State but won against Maryland.
9. Duke – Won both games, including a solid victory over #2 Auburn.
10. Alabama – Beat #20 North Carolina.
Kentucky has 2 Top-5 NET wins. The only team that can boast that. pic.twitter.com/H3i9vBZHL8
— Rare Rookies #BBN (@rarerookies) December 8, 2024
Considering these results, it’s reasonable to predict that Kansas will fall out of the top 10, and Auburn will drop out of the top 5 after their loss to Duke. Tennessee, with a win over Syracuse, may move up, but the lack of tough competition this week means they won’t have as strong of a case for the #1 spot. Kentucky, meanwhile, has two significant wins in their column—one over Duke and another over Gonzaga—so despite the loss to Clemson, their resume remains strong.
The NCAA committee weighs good wins more than bad losses.
Clemson wasn’t a bad loss, but if UK was going to go 1-1 on the road this week, this is the ideal way for it to play out.
— Lee K. Howard ☀️ (@HowardWKYT) December 8, 2024
In all likelihood, Kentucky will remain within the top 5 after their mixed results this week, though it seems unlikely they will take the #1 ranking. It’s expected that Tennessee or Iowa State will claim the top spot. Kentucky’s final placement could be as high as #2 or #3, but they could potentially drop to #5. Regardless, it would be surprising if the Wildcats fell outside the top 5 given their strong resume, including two top-10 victories and a competitive loss on the road.
In conclusion, while the loss to Clemson was a setback, Kentucky’s resilience in bouncing back to defeat Gonzaga keeps them firmly in the national spotlight, and their ranking in the AP Top 25 should reflect that strong performance. Expect Kentucky to maintain a position within the top 5, with a solid argument for the #2 or #3 spot.