The Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball team has been forced to watch themselves drop in the rankings for multiple weeks, and their post-season hopes dwindle. Three straight home losses stunned fans, but may have motivated the players. Either way, the Cats went 2 – 0 on the week and jumped up in the AP poll from 22nd to 17th.
Kentucky beat an Ole Miss Rebels team that had played pretty well this season 75 – 63. The real statement came on Saturday, though, as they took down the Auburn Tigers on the road 70 – 59. Auburn hadn’t lost at home this season, and the Cats dominated the game from start to finish.
The win against Auburn was their most impressive of the year. The much-maligned defense came out swinging and shut down a Tigers offense that had been very good. They played hard, and the results spoke for themselves.
Kentucky still has Alabama and Tennessee to play this season and both of those teams will test the suddenly solid defense. The Wildcats have shown they’re capable of beating anyone, though, and are now looking to get back up inside the top ten in future polls.