The latest AP Poll rankings have left college basketball fans scratching their heads. Tennessee, coming off a mixed week that included a loss to unranked Vanderbilt and a win over newly ranked Georgia, remains steady at No. 6. Meanwhile, Kentucky, who beat a still-ranked in the top 15 Mississippi State team and narrowly lost to the No. 4 team in the nation, dropped one spot.
Tennessee loss to unranked team, doesn’t fall. Florida loss to unranked team at HOME, doesn’t fall. Kentucky loses to a TOP 4 TEAM, falls a spot. It’s not a big deal or anything but it’s little stuff like that the AP poll does that annoys me.
— Vince Marrows Filet (@MarrowsFiletBBN) January 20, 2025
Tennessee’s Perplexing Position
Tennessee’s week featured a major misstep: a surprising loss to Vanderbilt, a team outside the Top 25. While they recovered with a win against a newly ranked Georgia squad, you have to think the caliber of teams Kentucky played is much higher.
Kentucky’s Controversial Drop
Kentucky drops to #9 in the new AP Poll
— Barstool Kentucky (@BarstoolUK) January 20, 2025
Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/y7vhzYumKu
On the flip side, Kentucky faced a significantly tougher schedule. The Wildcats secured a strong win over Mississippi State, a team that remains in the Top 15 despite the loss. Their only setback was a narrow defeat against the No. 4 team in the country Alabama—an arguably respectable performance that demonstrated their competitive strength. Yet, instead of holding their position like the Vols, Kentucky dropped a spot.
The Larger Debate
The AP Poll, voted on by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters, is often criticized for its subjectivity. While head-to-head matchups, strength of schedule, and game context should weigh heavily, the rankings can sometimes appear inconsistent. Just like this one.
For Tennessee, the benefit of the doubt seems to have been applied. Their win against Georgia was deemed enough to offset a surprising loss. Kentucky, however, faced tougher competition and came away 1-1 yet was punished in the rankings.
Final Thoughts
It’s clear that the AP Poll’s methodology continues to spark debate. How does a team with a stronger week drop, while another with a weaker showing stays put, despite both being 1-1? Fans will continue to question the rationale, but for Kentucky and Tennessee, the focus now shifts to the games ahead and proving the rankings right—or wrong—on the court.