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NCAA Basketball top 25 power rankings: Tennessee and Villanova rise, Alabama falls

By Joey Loose

Tennessee guard Kennedy Chandler (1) drives to the goal during a basketball game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Arizona Wildcats at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn., on Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021.Kns Vols Arizona Hoops Bp
Tennessee guard Kennedy Chandler (1) drives to the goal during a basketball game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Arizona Wildcats at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn., on Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021.Kns Vols Arizona Hoops Bp /
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NCAA Basketball Sahvir Wheeler Kentucky Wildcats (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NCAA Basketball Sahvir Wheeler Kentucky Wildcats (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

19. Kentucky (9-2)

Even after last year’s supreme disappointment, we enter every season with big expectations for Kentucky and this year was no different. Another impressive recruiting class for John Calipari has the Wildcats back in a position to contend not only for SEC titles but on the national stage too. This program certainly is beyond that success of the early 2010’s, but Calipari’s crew can still cause some damage this season.

The unfortunate news for Kentucky is that their beginning of the season has been underwhelming. They lost to Duke on opening night and fell a month later at Notre Dame. Between then, they won a slew of home games over unimpressive teams. In fact, it wasn’t until the last week or so when the Wildcats have started to stand out, blowing out North Carolina and Western Kentucky in their two most recent games. Those last two outings featured the Wildcats offense coming alive and it’s that kind of energy they’ll need as SEC play begins.

Coming off that impressive 28-rebound game against Western Kentucky, Oscar Tshiebwe can help lead this team exactly where they want to end up. The SEC is extremely tough again this season, though Kentucky has shined on both offense and defense ever since that Notre Dame loss. If the Wildcats continue to play like this, they should be able to take care of business in a tough SEC, but that’s no given. Consistent play could lead to a conference title, but Kentucky could just as easily fall out of contention like last season.

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