USA Today via Reuters
Nov 29, 2020; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Isaiah Jackson (23) and forward Oliver Sarr (30) celebrate in the first half against the Richmond Spiders at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Nov 29, 2020; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Isaiah Jackson (23) and forward Oliver Sarr (30) celebrate in the first half against the Richmond Spiders at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports
The Kentucky Wildcats and the Duke Blue Devils have had rough starts to the season. While the Blue Devils are currently a Top-25 team in the nation according to the AP Poll, the NCAA NET rankings have been quite ruthless. Even to the hapless Kentucky Wildcats this season.
The NET Rankings are a relatively objective metric as it accounts for the quantifiable ways of ranking teams like point differential and home/away factor. However, it also adjusts those ratings based on the quality of opposition.
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The NCAA’s first NET rankings of the season have been published.
1. Gonzaga
2. Baylor
3. Tennessee
4. Illinois
5. Villanova
6. Michigan
7. Iowa
8. Houston
9. Texas
10. MissouriThe rest …https://t.co/Sz3WkPe3ag
— Gary Parrish (@GaryParrishCBS) January 4, 2021
The rankings have rewarded the best teams in the country as usual. The Gonzaga Bulldogs sit atop the pack, followed by the Baylor Bears. Teams like the Tennessee Volunteers, Illinois Fighting Illini, Villanova Wildcats, and Michigan Wolverines follow them up.
Traditional powerhouses have not been shown a lot of love. The Indiana Hoosiers are No. 51. While the UCLA Bruins follow them at No. 54. We then see the UNC Tar Heels at 64. Then we come to Duke at 115 and Kentucky at a pitiful 144.
Kentucky Wildcats and Duke Blue Devils fall dramatically
The new NET Rankings are just another reminder to these two powerhouses that have faltered this season. Both teams got the best recruits from high school to join them, but it just hasn’t connected on the court.
The Wildcats are 2-6 this season, losing 6 of those games consecutively. The Blue Devils are faring better with a 3-2 record. However, their team has been fraught with COVID issues.
Imago
Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski stares at an official during the second half of the Blue Devils 85-77 loss to Maryland Wednesday February 28, 2007, at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/WireImage)
The main reason for their fall is COVID. Both programs are freshmen heavy. As a result, the players haven’t had a chance to build chemistry with each other. But that doesn’t excuse the starts these teams have had, especially for Kentucky.
Going 2-6 in your first 8 and losing to mediocre opposition shouldn’t be acceptable. The NET rankings are just proving how the Wildcats have fallen apart this season. Duke is harder to break down because of the COVID issues that they have had to deal with.
This fall should indicate to both teams that they aren’t necessarily on the path of building a successful college team this season.
Whether they pack it in for this year and focus on next season is a different question that the teams will need to answer soon enough.
