Men's Basketball Poll

#12 Kentucky Wildcats

2024

Overall Record

23-10

Last Game

vs Tennessee W 85-81

Conference Record

13-5

Next Game

@Tennessee 03/09/2024

Kentucky coach John Calipari, center, stands in front of the bench late in the second half of the team's basketball game against Oakland in the first round of the men's NCAA Tournament in Pittsburgh, Thursday, March 21, 2024. Oakland won 80-76. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Another early exit for Kentucky, Calipari shows his program is far removed from its heyday

Kentucky and coach John Calipari didn’t get through the first round of the NCAA Tournament again. For the second time in three years, the Wildcats were bounced by a double-digit seed.

Oakland's Jack Gohlke (3) reacts after hitting a 3-point shot against Kentucky during the second half of a college basketball game in the first round of the men's NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Jack Gohlke makes 10 3s as Oakland delivers first true shock of March Madness, beating Kentucky

Kentucky coach John Calipari, center, stands in front of the bench late in the second half of the team's basketball game against Oakland in the first round of the men's NCAA Tournament in Pittsburgh, Thursday, March 21, 2024. Oakland won 80-76. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Kentucky’s loss to unheralded Oakland crushes millions of March Madness brackets

Kentucky head coach John Calipari, right, gives directions during NCAA college basketball team practice at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, March 20, 2024. Kentucky faces Oakland in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Thursday. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

March Madness: Back home during the NCAAs, Calipari hoping Kentucky can mirror his blue-collar roots

Texas A&M guard Tyrece Radford (23) goes up for a shot as Kentucky forward Zvonimir Ivisic (44) defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Southeastern Conference tournament Friday, March 15, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

High-scoring Kentucky aims to prove during March Madness that it also defends, despite the stats

More News

Kentucky Wildcats and Oakland Golden Grizzlies square off in the first round of NCAA Tournament

The No. 12 Kentucky Wildcats play in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies .

Kentucky Wildcats play the Oakland Golden Grizzlies in first round of NCAA Tournament

The No. 12 Kentucky Wildcats play in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies .

Houston forward Ja'Vier Francis dunks the ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Texas Tech in the semifinal round of the Big 12 Conference tournament, Friday, March 15, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. Houston won 82-59. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Houston lands No. 1 seed in South Region that also features Marquette, Kentucky and Duke

Houston claimed a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year, but will have to navigate the likes of Duke, Kentucky and Marquette in the South Region if the Cougars are able to make their first Final Four since 2021.

Kentucky head caoch John Calipari walks on the sideline in the final seconds of the Wildcats' loss to Texas A&M in an NCAA college basketball game at the Southeastern Conference tournament Friday, March 15, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Aggies turn in 2nd upset of SEC quarterfinals, downing No. 9 Kentucky 97-87

Wade Taylor IV scored 32 points as Texas A&M upset ninth-ranked Kentucky 97-87 for the second biggest upset of the Southeastern Conference Tournament quarterfinals.

Kentucky Wildcats take on the Texas A&M Aggies in SEC Tournament

The No. 9 Kentucky Wildcats and Texas A&M Aggies square off in the SEC Tournament. Friday’s game is the second meeting this season between the two teams.

Kentucky guard Antonio Reeves (12) shoots past Tennessee forward Jonas Aidoo (0) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 9, 2024, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

AP Player of the Week: Antonio Reeves of Kentucky shines in pair of wins

Antonio Reeves of Kentucky is The Associated Press men’s college basketball player of the week after shining in a pair of wins that catapulted the Wildcats into the top 10.

Kentucky guard Antonio Reeves (12) shoots as he is defended by Tennessee guard Dalton Knecht (3) and forward Jonas Aidoo (0) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 9, 2024, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

SEC coaches pick Vols’ Dalton Knecht as top player, South Carolina’s Lamont Paris as coach of year

Tennessee guard Dalton Knecht has been chosen by Southeastern Conference coaches as player of the year after averaging a league-best 21.4-points per game.

Kentucky guard Antonio Reeves (12) drives as he is defended by Tennessee guard Dalton Knecht (3) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 9, 2024, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

Reeves, Sheppard lead No. 15 Kentucky over No. 4 Tennessee 85-81

Antonio Reeves and Reed Sheppard each scored 27 points as No. 15 Kentucky spoiled No. 4 Tennessee’s late season run with an 85-81 victory Saturday.

Knecht leads No. 4 Tennessee against No. 15 Kentucky after 26-point game

No. 4 Tennessee hosts the No. 15 Kentucky Wildcats after Dalton Knecht scored 26 points in Tennessee’s 66-59 victory over the South Carolina Gamecocks.

No. 15 Kentucky takes on No. 4 Tennessee after Dillingham’s 23-point game

No. 15 Kentucky takes on the No. 4 Tennessee Volunteers after Rob Dillingham scored 23 points in the Wildcats’ 93-77 win against the Vanderbilt Commodores.

Kentucky's Antonio Reeves (12) is defended by Vanderbilt's JaQualon Roberts (24) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, March 6, 2024, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/James Crisp)

Dillingham scores 23, No. 15 Kentucky pulls away from Vanderbilt 93-77 for 4th consecutive win

Rob Dillingham scored 23 points, including consecutive 3-pointers just before halftime, Antonio Reeves added 20 in his home finale and No. 15 Kentucky rode 56% second-half shooting to pull away from Vanderbilt 93-77 for its fourth straight victory.

Vanderbilt visits Reeves and No. 15 Kentucky

No. 15 Kentucky plays the Vanderbilt Commodores after Antonio Reeves scored 22 points in Kentucky’s 111-102 win over the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler (5) mimes smoking a cigar, a tradition of the winner of the Alabama-Tennessee series, after he shot a three-point basket during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Alabama, Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)

No. 5 Tennessee eyeing first SEC regular-season title in 6 years

No. 5 Tennessee has a chance to clinch its first Southeastern Conference regular-season championship since sharing the title with Auburn in 2017-18.

No. 15 Kentucky faces Vanderbilt after Reeves’ 22-point showing

No. 15 Kentucky hosts the Vanderbilt Commodores after Antonio Reeves scored 22 points in Kentucky’s 111-102 win over the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Kentucky's Antonio Reeves (12) shoots while defended by Arkansas' Khalif Battle (0) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/James Crisp)

Dillingham rallies No. 16 Kentucky late in the second half to 111-102 win over Arkansas

Rob Dillingham scored 11 of his 15 points in the final 6:33 and No. 16 Kentucky rallied for a 111-102 victory over Arkansas on Saturday.

Battle leads Arkansas against No. 16 Kentucky after 36-point performance

Arkansas takes on the No. 16 Kentucky Wildcats after Khalif Battle scored 36 points in the Razorbacks’ 85-82 loss to the Vanderbilt Commodores.

No. 16 Kentucky hosts Arkansas following Sheppard’s 32-point outing

No. 16 Kentucky hosts the Arkansas Razorbacks after Reed Sheppard scored 32 points in Kentucky’s 91-89 win against the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard (15) shoots over Mississippi State forward KeShawn Murphy (12) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, in Starkville, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Reed Sheppard’s runner with under a second left sends No. 16 Kentucky past Mississippi State, 91-89

Reed Sheppard made a runner from just inside the foul line with less than a second left and finished with a career-high 32 points, giving No. 16 Kentucky a wild 91-89 victory over Mississippi State.

Mississippi State faces No. 16 Kentucky following Hubbard’s 32-point performance

Mississippi State hosts the No. 16 Kentucky Wildcats after Josh Hubbard scored 32 points in Mississippi State’s 87-67 victory against the LSU Tigers.

Mississippi State faces No. 17 Kentucky after Hubbard’s 32-point performance

Mississippi State hosts the No. 17 Kentucky Wildcats after Josh Hubbard scored 32 points in Mississippi State’s 87-67 victory against the LSU Tigers.

Kentucky's Justin Edwards (1) looks for an opening against Alabama's Rylan Griffen (3) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/James Crisp)

Freshman Justin Edwards scores 28, leading No. 17 Kentucky past No. 13 Alabama 117-95

Freshman Justin Edwards scored a season-high 28 points and Antonio Reeves added 24, leading No. 17 Kentucky to a 117-95 win over No. 13 Alabama.

No. 13 Alabama visits Reeves and No. 17 Kentucky

No. 17 Kentucky hosts the No. 13 Alabama Crimson Tide after Antonio Reeves scored 25 points in Kentucky’s 75-74 loss to the LSU Tigers.

No. 17 Kentucky hosts Nelson and No. 13 Alabama

No. 13 Alabama takes on the No. 17 Kentucky Wildcats after Grant Nelson scored 22 points in the Crimson Tide’s 98-93 overtime victory over the Florida Gators.

LSU guard Trae Hannibal takes a photo with one of fans who rushed the court after LSU's victory over Kentucky in an NCAA college basketball game in Baton Rouge, La., Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

SEC fines LSU $100,000 for fans storming the court at end of upset of No. 17 Kentucky

The Southeastern Conference has announced it has fined LSU $100,000 in connection to fans running onto the court after the Tigers’ victory over No. 17 Kentucky.

LSU students, including LSU women's basketball forward Angel Reese, left, rush the court after LSU forward Tyrell Ward (15) hit the game-winning shot against Kentucky in an NCAA college basketball game in Baton Rouge, La., Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

Tyrell Ward’s last-second shot lifts LSU over No. 17 Kentucky 75-74

Tyrell Ward capped a 17-point performance with a short floater as time expired, and LSU pulled out a second straight comeback victory over a ranked team with a 75-74 victory over No. 17 Kentucky.

LSU hosts Reeves and No. 17 Kentucky

No. 17 Kentucky visits the LSU Tigers after Antonio Reeves scored 22 points in the Wildcats’ 70-59 win against the Auburn Tigers.

No. 17 Kentucky visits LSU following Reeves’ 22-point showing

No. 17 Kentucky visits the LSU Tigers after Antonio Reeves scored 22 points in the Wildcats’ 70-59 victory over the Auburn Tigers.

Kentucky guard Antonio Reeves (12) celebrates the team's win over Auburn in an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Julie Bennett)

Reeves, No. 22 Kentucky end 13th-ranked Auburn’s home winning streak, 70-59

Antonio Reeves scored 22 points and No. 22 Kentucky led throughout to beat cold-shooting Auburn 70-59, ending the 13th-ranked Tigers’ 16-game home winning streak.

Williams and No. 13 Auburn host No. 22 Kentucky

No. 13 Auburn hosts the No. 22 Kentucky Wildcats after Jaylin Williams scored 23 points in Auburn’s 101-61 victory over the South Carolina Gamecocks.

No. 22 Kentucky visits No. 13 Auburn following Williams’ 23-point performance

No. 13 Auburn faces the No. 22 Kentucky Wildcats after Jaylin Williams scored 23 points in Auburn’s 101-61 win against the South Carolina Gamecocks.