Kentucky 78 - 66 St. John's (Atlanta) (No. 2,430)

Yesterday, for the first time all year, Jayden Quaintance took the floor for the Kentucky Wildcats.  In 18 minutes, he had 10 points and 8 rebounds.  Meanwhile, Jaland Lowe -- who has been injured most of the year -- had 13 points in only 15 minutes.  Together, they helped UK beat St. John's 78 to 66 in the CBS Sports Classic in Atlanta.  (St. John's stepped in for U.C.L.A., who usually participates in this event.)

The Cats still can't shoot -- they were 4-16 from 3-point range, and they are now shooting only 31.8 percent behind the arc for the year.  And they trailed 32-25 at the half.  But just as they did against Indiana, they used their superior athleticism to dominate on defense in the second half.  After the intermission, UK outscored the Johnnies 53-34.  It's not pretty basketball, but it can be very effective.

The Cats are now 8-4 overall, and 18 on Ken Pom.  Pomeroy still thinks the Cats are going 19-12 overall and 10-8 in the SEC.

Today, Vandy went to Wake Forest and obliterated the Deacons, 98 to 67.  The Commodores were only 6-31 from three-point range at Memphis on Wednesday, and they struggled to pull that game out in overtime.  But today, the shots were dropping:  Vandy went 16-32 from behind the arc, with Tyler Nickel making 8-10.  And when Vandy shoots like that, they can be dominant.  They were dominant today -- Ken Pom thought they would win by five, and instead they won by 31.

So Vandy is now 12-0 overall, and 7 on Ken Pom.  Pomeroy thinks the Commodores are going 26-5 overall and 13-5 in the SEC.

Let's check in on two other teams of interest:

Murray State is 9-3 overall, 1-0 in the Missouri Valley, and 92 on Ken Pom.  Pomeroy has them going 21-10 overall and 13-7 in the Valley.  It looks like their strongest foe in the Valley will be Belmont, who is ranked 64th on Ken Pom.

Western Kentucky 7-4 overall and 147 on Ken Pom after losing an 82-81 heartbreaker at home against Tulsa.  Pomeroy has the Hilltoppers going 19-12 overall and 12-8 in Conference USA.  Pomeroy says that Liberty (Number 103) is the strongest team in the C-USA.

Here's the current top 20 on Ken Pom (luck scores in parentheses):

1.  Michigan:  10-0 (117)

2.  Arizona:  11-0 (124)

3.  Iowa St:  11-0 (91)

4.  Gonzaga:  11-1 (45)

5.  Purdue:  11-1 (79)

6.  Duke:  11-1 (116)

7.  Vanderbilt:  12-0 (109)

8.  Connecticut:  11-1 (72)

9.  Houston:  11-1 (99)

10.  B.Y.U.:  11-1 (138)

11.  Florida:  8-4 (349)

12.  Illinois:  8-3 (274)

13.  Michigan St:  11-1 (174)

14.  Louisville:  10-2 (164)

15.  Tennessee:  8-3 (325)

16.  Alabama:  8-3 (161)

17.  Kansas:  9-3 (168)

18.  Kentucky:  8-4 (306)

19.  Iowa:  10-2 (191)

20.  St. John's:  7-4 (338)

Arkansas is 9-3, with a luck score of 216 and a Ken Pom ranking of 27.