NET Rankings Fluctuate After a Wild Wednesday Night

Wednesday night in college hoops provided fans with a roller coaster experience. From the first game to the last, buzzer beaters and clutch shots capped incredible contests. NET rankings continue to become more crucial as Selection Sunday nears. Reminder, Rutgers made the tournament in 2022 with a historically low NET rating of 77. The four teams highlighted below saw their NET rankings shift following Wednesday’s outcomes. For each of these squads, key transfer contributions down the stretch could be the answer.

Kentucky Wildcats

An epic battle between Kentucky and LSU ended in heartbreak for the Wildcats. UK blew a ten-point halftime lead. After a pair of clutch shots by true freshman Rob Dillingham put Kentucky ahead late, Tiger fans had their prayers answered on a Tyrell Ward miracle layup at the buzzer. The loss dropped the Wildcats from 20 to 24 in the NET rankings.

Kentucky remains firmly in the tournament as a 5-6 seed despite the loss. However, three Quad 1 matchups remain for the Wildcats before season’s end. Kentucky clashes with Bama at home and takes on Tennessee and Miss State on the road. They’ll need transfer forward Tre Mitchell to get healthy in a hurry for the stretch run.

Mitchell has missed the last two games with a shoulder injury. Mitchell played two years at UMass to start his career. After one year at Texas followed by the next at West Virginia, Mitchell decided to head to Lexington for his last collegiate season. Mitchell averages 12 points and 7.5 rebounds for Kentucky and will need to make an immediate impact upon his return.