Where Kentucky and its remaining opponents stand in Jay Bilas' new "Bilas Index"

It’s hard to get a good read on Kentucky right now because of injuries and inconsistency. The Cats are stuck in a pattern of losing games you’d think they’d win and winning the ones you’d think they’d lose. Until Lamont Butler and/or Jaxson Robinson are back in the lineup consistently, trying to figure out where to rank Kentucky compared to the rest of the teams in college basketball is a tall task, but that’s not stopping pundits from trying.

Jay Bilas released his second “Bilas Index” of the season this morning. He has Kentucky at No. 17, the same as the AP Poll.

“Injuries have hurt the Wildcats, but this team continues to fight. Lamont Butler has been slowed by a shoulder injury, Jaxson Robinson by a hand injury and Kerr Kriisa is still out because of a foot injury. Still, shorthanded, Kentucky beat Tennessee — twice. Otega Oweh has scored in double figures in every game this season.”

Vanderbilt, tonight’s opponent, is No. 42 in Bilas’ rankings. Alabama, Saturday’s opponent, is No. 5, with Bilas calling the Crimson Tide’s offense the most “potent” in the country. Here’s where the rest of the teams Kentucky faces this season rank (he only includes the top 68 teams, so LSU didn’t make the cut):

• Vanderbilt (Feb. 19, home): No. 42
• Alabama (Feb. 22, away): No. 5
• Oklahoma (Feb. 26, away): No. 33
• Auburn (March 1, home): No. 1
• LSU (March 4, home): NR
• Missouri (March 8, away): No. 14

Vanderbilt didn’t hold on to its AP Top 25 ranking for long

After beating Kentucky in Nashville and Tennessee the week prior, Vanderbilt cracked the top 25 of the AP Poll for the first time since the 2015-16 season. It didn’t last long. The ‘Dores fell out of the Top 25 a week later following a 30-point drubbing at Oklahoma. They’re no longer receiving votes after losses to Florida, Auburn, and Tennessee and a win over Texas and are just 1-5 on the road during SEC play.

All that said, Kentucky can’t afford anything but an A performance tonight in Rupp. This game is in Quad 2 on the Cats’ team sheet, meaning a loss could be costly on Selection Sunday — even with Butler and Robinson out. Hopefully, the shorthanded Cats have revenge on the mind.

Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt: How to Watch, Listen

• Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
• Television: SEC Network (Roy Philpott and Daymeon Fishback)
• Home Radio: UK Sports Network – 630 WLAP, iHeart Radio (Tom Leach, Goose Givens)
• Online Radio: iHeart
• Satellite Radio: Sirius 84
• Live Stats: StatBroadcast

You can also follow the game via our new LIVE BLOG on the website, which will begin an hour before tip-off, or join the conversation on KSBoard.

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