The Cats are up and down. Sometimes it isn't just game to game, it's half to half. That was on full display Saturday night when the Vols raced out to a 14-point halftime lead, only to see the Cats roar all the way back for a 74-71 win.
But with that win, the Cats join an exclusive club this season. Despite the roller coaster ride, the resume is undeniable. Currently, the NET rankings show that Kentucky is 28th with 5 Quad 1 wins. That gets you about a 5 seed, which I think is about fair. But those 5 Quad 1 wins break down even further into a more exclusive club.
There are only 8 teams in the entire country with 4 AP Top 25 wins and 3 Quad 1-A wins (the gold standard for the selection committee).
Here is the list:
- Arizona
- Michigan
- UCONN
- Duke
- Illinois
- Kansas
- North Carolina
- Kentucky
What does this mean for Kentucky basketball?
I hear you, what does this actually mean? Well, in plain terms it is just a showing that this team can do things that only a few others can do. All of the other teams on this list are more consistent than the Cats, but the ceiling is there. It is a journey.
That kind of resume will get you looked at seriously when March rolls around. You are talking about Blue Bloods and Title Contenders everywhere. The problem, of course, is which team will show up?
Hopefully, it's the one that starts and finishes great, not the one that constantly finds itself down double digits before climbing back in.
This stat proves they can be really good, even great, but the consistency has to be there. And it starts with a massive showdown with Florida on Valentine's Day.
Get your heart popcorn ready, BBN. This week is going to be fun.