Rankings oddity

[MdWIldcat55]

Kentucky is ranked 7th in the AP poll...But very likely if you changed two shots -- the fluke 3 by the Seton Hall player to a miss and Herros' open look at Alabama to a make -- Kentucky would be #1.

Certainly the Duke loss was bad -- but it was on November 6 to a Top-3 opponent.
Tennessee's loss to Kansas is to a team Kentucky has now beaten, so among one-loss teams playing in the SEC, the Cats would get the nod over the Vols. Kentucky's overall record would be better than other 1-loss teams.

That's how narrow the margin is between #1-and-#7: Two shots. But the Cats will have ample chances to move up.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

This is why we are flying under the radar and may very well be the best team in America as I type this.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

It's just crazy how they drop us so much from the pre-season rankings, yet they hold judgement when we start making a move. Yes, of course a young Kentucky team can get beat a few times in November and December.. That shouldn't really surprise anyone.

Again, Kentucky is such a unicorn when it comes to these rankings. The team you saw lose to Seton Hall and Alabama is a totally different team than what we've seen the last few weeks. The rankings should reflect that.

 

[akaukswoosh]

Kentucky is ranked 7th in the AP poll...But very likely if you changed two shots -- the fluke 3 by the Seton Hall player to a miss and Herros' open look at Alabama to a make -- Kentucky would be #1.

Certainly the Duke loss was bad -- but it was on November 6 to a Top-3 opponent.
Tennessee's loss to Kansas is to a team Kentucky has now beaten, so among one-loss teams playing in the SEC, the Cats would get the nod over the Vols. Kentucky's overall record would be better than other 1-loss teams.

That's how narrow the margin is between #1-and-#7: Two shots. But the Cats will have ample chances to move up.

True but I'm a guy who doesn't mind a close loss here and there. Gives Cal a lot more leverage in emphasizing how hard you have to work to turn a close game into a win.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

I honestly think our only realistic chances of losing from here on out is at MSU and at UT and I also think we could win both of those.

 

[BlueBlood66_rivals34314]

Does every other team get to change a couple shots too?

 

[CatEye2010]

Does every other team get to change a couple shots too?

Yes. Everyone gets 2 mulligans. Except Duke and uncheat. They get as many as they need.

 

[Drcats2025]

I honestly think our only realistic chances of losing from here on out is at MSU and at UT and I also think we could win both of those.

There is a hand full of teams I’m more concerned with than at MSU

 

[wcc31]

Does every other team get to change a couple shots too?

This is a UK board, bandwagon. Go chat about other teams’ shots on their boards.

 

[efudexto]

I honestly think our only realistic chances of losing from here on out is at MSU and at UT and I also think we could win both of those.

We could win out....but there are a number of games that could produce an L.....any road game is never out of the realm of possibility, UT even at home will be tough....I think a pretty good scenario from here on out is 10-2 and finish 26-5 (15-3).... would love to do better, but still could possibly finish closer to 24-7.....here’s to pulling for 28-3. Go cats

 

[Blueisbest]

We could win out....but there are a number of games that could produce an L.....any road game is never out of the realm of possibility, UT even at home will be tough....I think a pretty good scenario from here on out is 10-2 and finish 26-5 (15-3).... would love to do better, but still could possibly finish closer to 24-7.....here’s to pulling for 28-3. Go cats

If you told me right now we could finish 26-5 I would take that in an instant. That's a minimum 2 seed and possibly, if a lot of things fell into place, we would get some consideration for a one seed.

 

[kl40504_rivals]

Kentucky is ranked 7th in the AP poll...But very likely if you changed two shots -- the fluke 3 by the Seton Hall player to a miss and Herros' open look at Alabama to a make -- Kentucky would be #1.

Certainly the Duke loss was bad -- but it was on November 6 to a Top-3 opponent.
Tennessee's loss to Kansas is to a team Kentucky has now beaten, so among one-loss teams playing in the SEC, the Cats would get the nod over the Vols. Kentucky's overall record would be better than other 1-loss teams.

That's how narrow the margin is between #1-and-#7: Two shots. But the Cats will have ample chances to move up.

Kentucky is ranked about where they should be.

 

[anon_013cn8yrfncx2]

The Seton Hall shot was not a fluke. Guy was their leading scorer averaging over 20 a game.

You and Cal can explain it away like that, but what should be said is, But for a 10 minute drought against Seton Hall ...

 

[kl40504_rivals]

The Seton Hall shot was not a fluke. Guy was their leading scorer averaging over 20 a game.

You and Cal can explain it away like that, but what should be said is, But for a 10 minute drought against Seton Hall ...

Villanova slaughtered Seton Hall.

 

[jrpross_rivals]

It’s the butterfly effect. In 2015 if the refs call the shot clock violation, Kentucky may have beaten Wisconsin AND Duke and many of the top recruits that went to Duke would have gone to Kentucky instead, and the next 3 seasons may have gone totally differently.

 

[brentutk_rivals216441]

You're saying that a 1-loss UK would be ranked over a 1-loss UT? Nah. Overtime loss is more appealing than a 30 point beatdown. Sure, UK beat Kansas. UT beat Gonzaga who beat Duke.

 

[Fitch44]

Does every other team get to change a couple shots too?

Well, in Barrett’s case he would want to change one of the 5 shots he shot in the last minute against the Zags or one of his 30 shots/17 3’s attempted against the Cuse.


Forget changing one of these shots, I just wish UK players would be tough like their mothers.
Holy hell, that senile old rat is going to crawl quietly into a hole never to be heard from again when he comes up short again with all this talent.

 

[Rush2112 UK]

You're saying that a 1-loss UK would be ranked over a 1-loss UT? Nah. Overtime loss is more appealing than a 30 point beatdown. Sure, UK beat Kansas. UT beat Gonzaga who beat Duke.

We're Kentucky, you're... Tennessee. [laughing] That alone would get us the votes.

 

[Elliott Tim]

I honestly think our only realistic chances of losing from here on out is at MSU and at UT and I also think we could win both of those.

Hope so.

 

[Kubballfan]

I think that’s about right.

On Saturday you beat a very mediocre Kansas team by not as much as you should have. Mostly because of poor shooting (especially in the first half).

Shooting and defense are two critical metrics and UK struggles with both.

However, your length, depth and coach keep you in the top 10. AND you are getting better.

 

[mbc82584]

I think that’s about right.

On Saturday you beat a very mediocre Kansas team by not as much as you should have. Mostly because of poor shooting (especially in the first half).

Shooting and defense are two critical metrics and UK struggles with both.

However, your length, depth and coach keep you in the top 10. AND you are getting better.

Do we really have a Kansas fan over here talking **** after we reamed them?

 

[SophiesDad]

I think that’s about right.

On Saturday you beat a very mediocre Kansas team by not as much as you should have. Mostly because of poor shooting (especially in the first half).

Shooting and defense are two critical metrics and UK struggles with both.

However, your length, depth and coach keep you in the top 10. AND you are getting better.

By what metric is Kansas considered a very mediocre basketball team? Do tell

 

[Blueisbest]

I think that’s about right.

On Saturday you beat a very mediocre Kansas team by not as much as you should have. Mostly because of poor shooting (especially in the first half).

Shooting and defense are two critical metrics and UK struggles with both.

However, your length, depth and coach keep you in the top 10. AND you are getting better.

Am I wrong but a lot of preseason pollsters had Kansas #1 or #2 to start the season. You have been in the Top Ten all year. How is that mediocre?

 

[Kubballfan]

Absolutely not talking ****. You won. You are better than us right now.

This forum talks real basketball and I was offering an honest opinion.

Kentucky is a very good basketball team and getting better. Getting better looks like playing better defense against the drive and somehow shooting better from the three (if you figure THAT out please share with Coach Self)

Honest, respectful perspective.

 

[bbfan1183]

To be fair. Kansas has been kinda mediocre since Azubuike got hurt.

 

[efudexto]

If you told me right now we could finish 26-5 I would take that in an instant. That's a minimum 2 seed and possibly, if a lot of things fell into place, we would get some consideration for a one seed.

You and me both, take it in a heartbeat

 

[Aike]

I think that’s about right.

On Saturday you beat a very mediocre Kansas team by not as much as you should have. Mostly because of poor shooting (especially in the first half).

Shooting and defense are two critical metrics and UK struggles with both.

However, your length, depth and coach keep you in the top 10. AND you are getting better.

We covered vs. KU.

We do struggle with our shot at times, but our defense is fine. Actually, excellent of late.

 

[Drcatfan]

First, you better have a healthy fear of every road game in the SEC. Don’t be surprised when we have an off night and an unranked SEC team nips us in their “Super Bowl” on their home court.

I also think we are ranked about right. The experts gave us credibility, then we completely lost it all when Duke took us to the woodshed by 30+. Now, we have to earn that credibility back. We will have some great opportunities to do just that in the games with UT.

We are in great shape. Looking at a 2 seed and control our own destiny to earn a 1 seed.

 

[Catapult_rivals218351]

I think that’s about right.

On Saturday you beat a very mediocre Kansas team by not as much as you should have. Mostly because of poor shooting (especially in the first half).

Shooting and defense are two critical metrics and UK struggles with both.

However, your length, depth and coach keep you in the top 10. AND you are getting better.

You're not as good as you were with Azubuike, but you're not mediocre. Don't think you're a FF contender now, but you should still be no worse than 4/5 seed.

 

[kyboy1998_rivals34276]

It’s kind of like the old saying, “If my aunt had balls she’d be my uncle.”

Fact is we did lose those games and the Alabama game was a worse loss than the score indicated. We were fortunate to make a damn near miracle rally.

We are positioned well moving forward and I’m happy where we are.

 

[Poetax]

Villanova slaughtered Seton Hall.

Funny how that works but really doesn't mean anything.

 

[kl40504_rivals]

Funny how that works but really doesn't mean anything.

It means the Big East is a legitimate conference which someone on here said was a nothing conference. The Big East has won two national championships recently.

 

[Poetax]

It means the Big East is a legitimate conference which someone on here said was a nothing conference. The Big East has won two national championships recently.

Didn't see the comment, but as we all know who beats who doesn't mean a whole lot much of the time.

 

[kl40504_rivals]

Didn't see the comment, but as we all know who beats who doesn't mean a whole lot much of the time.

Evidently it does. The NCAA uses wins and losses plus a few other things to determine seeding in the NCAA tournament.

 

[CatfanMike47]

Absolutely not talking ****. You won. You are better than us right now.

This forum talks real basketball and I was offering an honest opinion.

Kentucky is a very good basketball team and getting better. Getting better looks like playing better defense against the drive and somehow shooting better from the three (if you figure THAT out please share with Coach Self)

Honest, respectful perspective.

But the other night you kept telling us you weren’t a Kansas fan! Now you’re telling us you are one! Troll be gone

 

[ManitouDan_anon]

Villanova slaughtered Seton Hall.

As would we .

 

[HagginHall1999]

We could win out....but there are a number of games that could produce an L.....any road game is never out of the realm of possibility, UT even at home will be tough....I think a pretty good scenario from here on out is 10-2 and finish 26-5 (15-3).... would love to do better, but still could possibly finish closer to 24-7.....here’s to pulling for 28-3. Go cats

I don't want to win out...but I do want the one seed.

I'll take a sweep over UT, win all home games left and a loss to someone decent on the road and/or in SEC Tourney.

If we won out we'd be on a 23 or so win streak going into Elite Eight...that's too much IMO, never care for that.

 

[kevcat]

Kentucky is ranked 7th in the AP poll...But very likely if you changed two shots -- the fluke 3 by the Seton Hall player to a miss and Herros' open look at Alabama to a make -- Kentucky would be #1.

Certainly the Duke loss was bad -- but it was on November 6 to a Top-3 opponent.
Tennessee's loss to Kansas is to a team Kentucky has now beaten, so among one-loss teams playing in the SEC, the Cats would get the nod over the Vols. Kentucky's overall record would be better than other 1-loss teams.

That's how narrow the margin is between #1-and-#7: Two shots. But the Cats will have ample chances to move up.

I agree with what you’re saying for the most part, but you did conveniently leave out the part that when Tennessee lost to Kansas, that Kansas still had a healthy Azubuike, who was their best player, and the game went to overtime.

You also left out the part where Tennessee beat Gonzaga. Gonzaga, of course, beat Duke, who not only beat us, but beat us by 34, and it could have been 50.

Nonetheless, I kind of like being where we are.

Remember, our remaining schedule is tough, and that means if we finish really strong, things will work out well come Selection Sunday.

 

[kl40504_rivals]

As would we .

Kentucky lost to Seton Hall.