A week ago, Kentucky landed at No. 14 in the AP poll after a 5-0 start to the season, with one of those wins coming against then-No. 18 Louisville 71-61 in overtime. The big win put Kentucky on the map nationally, but to what extent?

Well, the Cats soundly defeated Arizona State to open the Music City Classic, and the next day they beat a top-20 Illinois team by 23 points. After that, you’d think Kentucky would continue to be rewarded for its success, right? However, Kentucky rose not one, not two, not three, but a total of zero spots in the latest AP poll.

Despite being undefeated, having beaten all seven opponents by double digits and picking up two top-20 wins (one of them on a neutral site), Kentucky didn’t budge at all on Monday.

However, the Cats have a chance to prove the doubters wrong in the national spotlight when they face No. 16 North Carolina on the road on ESPN2, and if there’s anyone who’s aware of that, it’s him Kenny Brooks.

In several of his postgame press conferences this season, Brooks talked about “the little number next to our name,” as he put it. Brooks knows and understands that being ranked means a lot – being at the top of the best of the best. But Kentucky is certainly not where they want to be yet.

It also helps that Brooks has Radvile Autukaite on the team to prepare for the Tar Heels.

“On the field, she is a fantastic coach with a unique eye for detail and puts together a great scout,” TechSideline’s David Cunningham told KSR before the season.

“For example, she always played a big role or was the scout for Virginia Tech against North Carolina,” Cunningham explained. “During their time on the program, the Hokies were 11-3 in the series and won six straight.“The Tar Heels have been a team in the top half of the league in recent years, even finishing 3rd in the ACC in 2021-22.

Brooks has said more than once that the team has a responsibility to protect its ranking, but on Thursday they will play to justify a new ranking next Monday.