The start of the 2024-25 Kentucky basketball season couldn’t have started much better. The Wildcats came out on top in both of its opening games in blowout fashion, and in the first USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll of the season, it paid off.
In the preseason Coaches Poll, Kentucky was ranked 23rd. In Monday’s new top 25, they have moved up five spots, and are now ranked 18th in the nation. That’s also good for fourth among the teams of the SEC.
Related: The best photos of Kentucky’s win over Bucknell
The Auburn Tigers were the biggest riser in the SEC, up seven spots to number four. Texas A&M and Arkansas each took a fall, dropping eight and five spots respectively.
Kentucky meets the Duke Blue Devils next. They’re ranked sixth in the country, and a win would certainly boost the Wildcats up even further in the polls next week.
Here is the full USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll:
| Ranking | Team | Record | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas | 2-0 | 759 (21) |
| 2 | Alabama | 2-0 | 724 (4) |
| 3 | UConn | 2-0 | 702 (3) |
| 4 | Auburn | 2-0 | 660 (2) |
| 5 | Gonzaga | 2-0 | 651 (1) |
| 6 | Duke | 2-0 | 608 |
| 7 | Iowa State | 1-0 | 576 |
| 8 | Arizona | 2-0 | 516 |
| 9 | Tennessee | 2-0 | 502 |
| 10 | Houston | 1-1 | 488 |
| 11 | North Carolina | 1-1 | 456 |
| 12 | Purdue | 2-0 | 437 |
| 13 | Creighton | 2-0 | 385 |
| 14 | Baylor | 1-1 | 328 |
| 15 | Marquette | 2-0 | 308 |
| 16 | Indiana | 2-0 | 234 |
| 17 | Cincinnati | 2-0 | 230 |
| 18 | Kentucky | 2-0 | 182 |
| 19 | Florida | 2-0 | 179 |
| 20 | Illinois | 2-0 | 151 |
| 21 | Arkansas | 1-1 | 150 |
| 22 | Ohio State | 1-0 | 148 |
| 23 | Texas A&M | 1-1 | 99 |
| 24 | Rutgers | 1-0 | 84 |
| 25 | St. John’s | 2-0 | 79 |