As the basketball season begins the final push to March Madness, the Kentucky Wildcats find themselves in the middle of a heated battle to try and climb the rankings. Here's a look at how they stack up in the major polls (AP, Coaches, NET, KENPOM, and Torvik) and what this means for their standing in college basketball.
AP Poll: 17
Coaches Poll: 21
NET Ranking: 17
Net Rating: +24.28
KenPom: 19
Bart Torvik: 22
Adjusted OE: 127.2 (4th)
Adjusted DE: 102.7 (87th)
Observations and What's Ahead:
Offensive Firepower: Kentucky's offensive metrics across all polls and analytics indicate they have one of the best offenses in the country.
Defensive Inconsistencies: The Wildcats' defense has shown moments of brilliance but also inconsistency, which shows up as they move up and down in the defensive metrics.
All of this is leading to a team that can beat anyone, but also lose to anyone as well. Not exactly where you want to be heading into March. Job number one is to get healthy.
SEC power rankings
1. Florida (22-3, 9-3 SEC) ⬆️
🔹 Recent Form: W4
🔹 Why #1? Florida’s won four in a row including Auburn. The Gators have dominated at home (12-1) and are undefeated in neutral-site games (5-0), after knocking off Auburn the Gators are the top team in the SEC, for now.
2. Texas A&M (20-5, 9-3 SEC) ⬆️
🔹 Recent Form: W5
🔹 Why #2? The Aggies are on the hottest streak in the SEC, winning five straight. They’ve been rock-solid at home (12-1) and have managed to win on the road, unlike some of their competitors.
3. Auburn (23-2, 11-1 SEC) ⬇️
🔹 Recent Form: W2
🔹 Why #3? Auburn still holds the best conference record, but with Texas A&M and Florida surging, they slip slightly. They’re still a dominant team though.
4. Alabama (21-4, 10-2 SEC) ⬇️
🔹 Recent Form: L1
🔹 Why #4? A recent loss drops them a bit, but Alabama is still one of the SEC’s most consistent teams. Their road record (8-1) is among the best in the league.
5. Missouri (19-6, 8-4 SEC) ⬆️
🔹 Recent Form: W2
🔹 Why #5? Missouri’s 16-1 home record is absurd, but road struggles (3-4) keep them from climbing higher. Still, they’re picking up momentum.
6. Tennessee (21-5, 8-5 SEC) ➖
🔹 Recent Form: W1
🔹 Why #6? The Vols have hit a bit of a rough patch recently but remain a top-tier SEC squad. Their 14-1 home record is elite, but a 4-4 road mark holds them back.
7. Ole Miss (19-7, 8-5 SEC) ⬇️
🔹 Recent Form: L1
🔹 Why #7? A tough recent loss hurts, but the Rebels are still right in the mix. Their road record (5-3) is respectable, giving them an edge over some of the middle-tier teams.
8. Mississippi State (18-7, 6-6 SEC) ⬆️
🔹 Recent Form: W1
🔹 Why #8? A strong neutral-site record (4-1) and a .500 conference mark keep them competitive.
9. Texas (16-10, 5-8 SEC) ⬆️
🔹 Recent Form: W1
🔹 Why #9? The Longhorns broke their losing streak, but they still have work to do.
10. Kentucky (17-8, 6-6 SEC) ⬇️
🔹 Recent Form: L1
🔹 Why #10? The Wildcats’ struggles on the road (2-5) prevent them from climbing higher. Still a dangerous team.
11. Vanderbilt (17-8, 5-7 SEC) ⬇️
🔹 Recent Form: L2
🔹 Why #11? A solid home record (12-2), but back-to-back losses aren’t helping their case.
12. Arkansas (15-10, 4-8 SEC) ⬇️
🔹 Recent Form: L1
🔹 Why #12? A decent home record (10-4), but they need a spark to get back in the mix.
13. Georgia (16-10, 4-9 SEC) ⬇️
🔹 Recent Form: L3
🔹 Why #13? Three straight losses have hurt the Bulldogs, despite a strong overall record.
14. LSU (13-12, 2-10 SEC) ⬆️
🔹 Recent Form: W1
🔹 Why #14? A rare win stops the bleeding, but LSU remains near the bottom.
15. Oklahoma (16-9, 3-9 SEC) ⬇️
🔹 Recent Form: L4
🔹 Why #15? The Sooners have lost four straight and have only one road win.
16. South Carolina (10-15, 0-12 SEC) ➖
🔹 Recent Form: L12
🔹 Why #16? A 12-game losing streak and no SEC wins keep the Gamecocks firmly in last place.
The Cats seem to be standing in the middle, taking a step forward and a step back. Will they finally make a big push in the last 6 games?