9. Kentucky (13-3)
Could great things be on the horizon under Mark Pope at Kentucky? He’s got this team playing great ball especially on the offensive end, with nice wins over Duke, Gonzaga, and Florida already on the resume. It’s important to remember that this is a brand new team completely constructed in the offseason and that Pope could really be cooking with this program in the years to come.
Coming off that great win over the Gators, Kentucky came up short in their first SEC road game, losing 82-69 at Georgia back on Tuesday night. Lamont Butler stood out with 20 points on a rough offensive showing for the team as a whole. That offense was far more explosive over the weekend, getting a 95-90 road win against Mississippi State, their first of the season. Jaxson Robinson put up 27 points, Amari Williams added a double-double, and the Wildcats’ starters each played great in this win over the Bulldogs.
The questionable defense might let the Wildcats down when the games matter more, but that offense can hang with any team in the nation. Kentucky has looked phenomenal at times, topping 100 four times and really putting on show after show. They have a major chance for more impactful play ahead, as this week they’ll host Texas A&M and Alabama.