Despite last week’s loss to Clemson, Kentucky remains firmly in the top five of this week’s AP Poll, holding the No. 5 spot. While some fans may find it frustrating that Duke, a team Kentucky defeated earlier this season, sits one spot ahead at No. 4, there’s a fascinating silver lining that bodes well for the Wildcats.
According to a trend noted by former ESPN college basketball writer John Gasaway, the Week Six AP Poll has been an unusually accurate predictor of NCAA Tournament champions. Since the 2003-04 season, every champion except the 2002-03 Syracuse team was ranked in the top 12 of the Week Six poll. Even more compelling, the average Week Six ranking of eventual champions is 4.8 — aligning perfectly with Kentucky’s current No. 5 position.
This week’s top 12 includes:
- Tennessee
- Auburn
- Iowa State
- Duke
- Kentucky
- Marquette
- Alabama
- Gonzaga
- Florida
- Kansas
- Purdue
- Oregon
With Kentucky comfortably in the elite group and just fractions away from the average championship ranking, the Wildcats’ title hopes appear statistically strong. Week Six’s predictive power has consistently outperformed even later polls, including those released just before the tournament begins.
So, while the rankings may not always reflect perfect logic (like Duke’s placement above Kentucky), they offer an encouraging omen for Big Blue Nation. With the Wildcats sitting at No. 5, fans might want to start considering travel plans for San Antonio, where the Final Four will take place. Could this be the year Kentucky adds another banner to the rafters? If history is any guide, it just might be.
