Kentucky Wildcats bench goes wild after a play during the second half of the University of Kentucky Men's basketball game against Radford at Rupp Arena, Nov. 23, 2011. UK led the game at half 88-40. Photo by Mike Weaver | Staff
For the first time since the 2009-10 season, the UK men’s basketball team holds the new No. 1 position in the Associated Press’ college basketball Top 25 and the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.
“This early in the season it’s nice, but it’s not that significant,” head coach John Calipari said in a release. “It just puts a bigger target on us. Obviously, not everyone thinks that we’re the best team. Starting three freshmen and two sophomores, they may be right. I’ll be anxious to see how the team accepts the challenge this week.”
UK received 46 of 65 possible first-place vote in the AP poll and 22 of 31 possible first-place votes in the coaches poll.
UK (6-0) replaced the North Carolina Tarheels (5-1) for the No. 1 spot after a UNC loss to UNLV Saturday night. North Carolina dropped to No. 5 on the poll, meaning the matchup with the Cats and the Tarheels will no longer be a No. 1 versus No. 2 contest.
Calipari is one of just two coaches (Frank McGuire) to lead three teams to a No. 1 ranking.
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