Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball is on the rise after knocking off the No. 7 Duke Blue Devils at the State Farm Champions Classic last week in Atlanta.

Mark Pope’s Wildcats battled back in the second half, playing intense defense and executing on offense/making clutch free throws down the stretch to pull out the victory.

Before beating Duke, Kentucky was ranked No. 19. Now, with that victory on their resume and standing tall at 3-0, they’re expected to rise quite a bit in the AP Top-25 rankings.

CBS Sports predicts Kentucky to land at No. 9, which On3 seems to agree with.

Fox Sports, however, doesn’t see Kentucky cracking the top-10 and instead just outside at No. 12.

KenPom has Kentucky at No. 22.

The Wildcats now have an opportunity to rattle off a handful of victories to extend their undefeated record, starting with Lipscomb, Jackson State, Western Kentucky and Georgia State before going to Clemson on December 3rd and then to Gonzaga on December 7th.

Kentucky will also have several more games before SEC play begins, but the Clemson Tigers and Gonzaga Bulldogs will be a nice way to evaluate just how good the Wildcats are in a few weeks.

Check back here throughout the day for updates on where Kentucky stands in the official rankings!

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Excited for tomorrow night.

Headlines

Cutter Boley Took Advantage of his Chance to Play – Vaught’s Views

He looks like the future.

Oregon remains No. 1 in AP Top 25; Notre Dame up to 6 – ESPN

The CFP feels like it’s wide open.

Mark Pope Has Proved Mark Fox Right – Vaught’s Views

UK has all of the momentum right now.

Lions vault past Chiefs as Super Bowl betting favorites – ESPN

Thanks to Josh Allen & the Bills.

Jasper Johnson talks Kentucky, Caleb Wilson and OTE – KSR

Excited for him to be a part of BBN.

Bears’ Matt Eberflus defends decision to run clock before kick – ESPN

He isn’t wrong.

The transfer portal is ‘really important’ to Mark Pope – KSR

But he agrees that continuity is the key to success.

Doug Pederson’s focus on job, not future after Jaguars lose 52-6 – ESPN

A change is inevitable.