Dick Vitale Just Dropped His Fiery Top 12 Preseason Rankings — And Kentucky Fans Are Losing It Over the Wildcats’ Placement… Wait Until You See Which Team Snagged Their Expected Spot
College basketball icon Dick Vitale has just dropped his much-anticipated Top 12 preseason rankings — and the internet is absolutely lighting up. But while the list features many of the usual powerhouses, it’s where the Kentucky Wildcats landed that’s sparking serious debate.
Wildcat Nation was holding its breath, fully expecting to see Big Blue crack the top five, especially after a dynamic offseason under new head coach Mark Pope. With a blend of experienced transfers, elite freshman talent, and rising sophomores, expectations were sky-high. Yet Vitale’s list delivered a shocking twist: Kentucky came in at No. 7 — respectable, yes, but nowhere near what many fans had envisioned.
Even more surprising? The team that leapfrogged Kentucky to steal a coveted top-five spot: Houston. That’s right — the Cougars, known for their gritty defense and hard-nosed style, have edged past the Wildcats according to Vitale’s expert analysis. While Houston certainly has talent and coaching continuity, many Kentucky fans are questioning whether they truly deserve to rank higher than a reloaded and revitalized UK roster.
“ARE YOU KIDDING ME, BABY?!” Vitale wrote in his post. “Kentucky’s got a ton of promise under Mark Pope, but Houston’s toughness and chemistry give them the edge right now!”
Predictably, Big Blue Nation isn’t taking it quietly. Social media erupted within minutes of the post, with fans questioning the logic behind the ranking and some even suggesting that Vitale is underestimating Kentucky — again.
To be fair, Vitale did heap praise on the Wildcats’ potential, calling them a “dark horse national title threat” and praising Pope’s new system as “exactly what Lexington needs.” Still, being labeled a dark horse rather than a frontrunner didn’t sit well with fans expecting a top-three nod.
The good news? The season hasn’t started yet, and Kentucky has all the tools to prove the doubters wrong.
But for now, one thing’s certain — Dickie V’s rankings have thrown gasoline on the fire. And with Houston sitting in the Wildcats’ projected spot, you can bet that Kentucky will have that matchup circled… if fate allows it.
