Life Without Noel: Kentucky Falling Fastest of Middle 20 After Tennessee Rout

After Nerlen Noel’s season-ending injury, Breitbart Sports dropped Kentucky into the Middle 20 – teams fighting for the final 10 bids to the NCAA tournament. After Trae Golden torched the Wildcats Saturday for 24 points and eight assists for an 88-58 Tennesse victory, the Wildcats may have trouble making the tournament without Noel. Temple, Indiana State and Arizona State have also hurt their chances since the ratings came out Wednesday, while Villanova and California are getting closer to a bid.

Tennessee’s win was the most lopsided win in the 216-game history of this series. Jordan McRae scored 15 points and Kenny Hall had 12 points to get Tennessee to .500 in the SEC (14-10, 6-6). Jarnell Stokes needed just one more rebound and one more point to make it seven straight double-doubles in the win.  

Middle	Moving	Team	Conf	Wednesday/Thursday games since ranking
1	Up	Oregon	P12	Wed. won at #82 Washington, Sat at Washington State 7 pm
2		St. Louis	A10	Sat play Charlotte 7 p.m.
3		La Salle	A10	Wed. won 69-66 in OT at #111 St. Bonaventure, Sat won vs. St. Joe’s 76-64
4	Up	Baylor	B12	Wed. won 80-60 vs #94 WVU, at K-State 7 pm
5	Down	Kentucky	SEC	Sat lost at Tennessee 58-88
6		Mississippi	SEC	Wed. lost 67-69 at #96 Texas A&M, Sat vs. Georgia 8 pm
7		Iowa St.	B12	Wed. lost 86-89 at #95 Texas, won vs. TCU 87-53 Sat
8		Stanford	P12	Thur. lost at #40 USC 64-65, Sat vs. UCLA 4 pm
9	Down	Temple	A10	Thur. LOST 83-84 vs. #233 Duquesne, at Mass 6 p.m. Sat
10	Down	Indiana St.	MVC	Sat lost at Bradley 68-78
11		Boise St.	MWC	Sat at New Mexico 9 pm
12		Brigham Young	WCC	Sat 9 pm vs. Portland
13		Southern Mississippi	CUSA	Wed. won 71-60 vs. #143 Tulane, at ECU 5 pm
14		Massachusetts	A10	Thur. lost 68-86 at #22 VCU, play Temple Sat 6pm
15		St. John’s	BE	Wed. lost 58-72 at Louisville
16		Virginia	ACC	Sat lost at UNC 81-93
17		Maryland	ACC	Sat vs Duke 6 pm
18	Up	Villanova	BE	Sat won at Uconn 70-61
19	Down	Arizona St.	P12	Wed. lost at 136 Utah, 55-60. Sat at Colorado 9 pm
20	Up	California	P12	Thur. won 76-63 vs. #52 UCLA