Here’s where Kentucky women’s basketball ranks in AP Top 25 and NET entering SEC play
Another iteration of the Associated Press women’s college basketball top 25, another week of the Kentucky Wildcats at No. 16.
This marks the fourth consecutive week of no movement for Kentucky (11-1), which closed nonconference play with a comfortable 88-70 victory over Western Kentucky (9-3) on Saturday. The Wildcats’ stagnation isn’t surprising, given the fact that the Week 9 rankings saw no movement whatsoever within the top 18 spots.
That said, the top 10 is the same as last week’s, with UCLA (13-0) maintaining its place at the top of the mountain. Joining the Bruins within the top 10 are No. 2 South Carolina (12-1), No. 3 Notre Dame (11-2), No. 4 Southern California (12-1), No. 5 Texas (13-1), No. 6 LSU (15-0), No. 7 Connecticut (11-2), No. 8 Maryland (12-0), No. 9 Oklahoma (12-1) and No. 10 Ohio State (13-0).
In addition to South Carolina, Texas, LSU, Oklahoma and Kentucky, the Southeastern Conference also boasts No. 15 Tennessee (12-0), No. 19 Alabama (13-1) and No. 25 Ole Miss (8-3). Tennessee and Ole Miss saw no change in this week’s rankings, but the Crimson Tide improved one spot after a 93-46 win over Jacksonville in Tuscaloosa.
Fellow SEC members Vanderbilt and Mississippi State each received top 25 votes.
The SEC’s eight-team representation leads the way for all conferences. The Big Ten ranks second with seven top 25 teams, the Atlantic Coast Conference ranks third with six teams and the Big 12 sits fourth with three.
NET rankings update
Similarly to the AP Top 25, the Wildcats’ NCAA NET rank through games played Dec. 29 is largely consistent with what it has been the past few weeks. After their win over Western Kentucky, the Wildcats sit at No. 33.
UK is one of 10 SEC teams in the NET’s top 50, and one of 14 in the top 100.
No. 1 Texas, No. 2 South Carolina and No. 9 LSU each remain in the top 10, alongside No. 3 UCLA, No. 4 Connecticut, No. 5 Kansas State, No. 6 Notre Dame, No. 7 Southern California, No. 8 TCU and No. 10 Ohio State.
No. 11 Oklahoma and No. 12 Vanderbilt, each of which have ranked within the top 10 at varying points throughout the season, just missed the cut. No. 14 Alabama, No. 19 Tennessee and No. 20 Ole Miss are also in the top 20, while No. 27 Mississippi State — the Wildcats’ next foe — and Kentucky remain in strong position to make this year’s NCAA Tournament.
No. 52 Auburn, No. 56 Florida and No. 60 Missouri have a ways to go, and No. 89 Texas A&M continues to stay within the confines of the top 100; No. 140 Georgia and No. 144 Arkansas cannot say the same.
Next game
Mississippi State at No. 16 Kentucky
When: 7 p.m. Thursday
TV: SEC Network+ (online only)
Radio: WLAP-AM 630
Records: Mississippi State 12-1, Kentucky 11-1
Series: Kentucky leads 32-24
Last meeting: Kentucky won 78-68 on Feb. 22, 2024, in Starkville, Miss.
