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AP should release new poll immediately after Kentucky embarrassment

By Kevin Connelly

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - NOVEMBER 12: John Calipari the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts to a mistake by his team in the first half of the 67-64 loss to the Evansville Aces at Rupp Arena on November 12, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - NOVEMBER 12: John Calipari the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts to a mistake by his team in the first half of the 67-64 loss to the Evansville Aces at Rupp Arena on November 12, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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The Associated Press needs to make an exception and release a new Top-25 poll with the Duke Basketball team at No. 1 after Kentucky’s loss to Evansville.

One day.

One day was all it took for the Kentucky Wildcats to utterly embarrass the voters of the Associated Press as the John Callipari led Wildcats lost to Evansville, at home, 67-64.

The preseason No. 2 team in the country defeated the then No. 1 Michigan State Spartans — without Josh Langford — to start the season in the second half of the State Farm Champions Classic double header, sprung to No. 1 on Monday afternoon.

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After the victory over the Spartans, Kentucky feasted on Eastern Kentucky before receiving its No. 1 ranking.

While there is no dominant team in college basketball this season, a team that voters nearly unanimously selected as the No. 1 team should have the skill and resolve to beat the team that was projected to finish eight in the Missouri Valley Conference.

As the No. 2 team in the nation, the Duke Blue Devils avoided an injury scare to its sophomore point guard Tre Jones and despite arguably the best and most importantly player on the team only seeing nine minutes, still won 105-54 against an inferior team at home.

It’s likely that Kentucky will not be this bad for the remainder of the season and the Wildcats will still be in the mix for a Final Four berth in March, but for the time being, immediate action needs to be taken.

This cannot wait for Monday afternoon around 12:00pm EST, a special poll must be released after this loss for Kentucky which would move Duke to No. 1 in the rankings, not because Duke is the best team in the country, but because this loss is so bad for Kentucky.

Obviously this will not happen, but the principle is there and barring a Kentucky-like collapse on Friday night against Georgia State, the Duke Blue Devils will be the No. 1 team in the country on Monday afternoon as they head to Madison Square Garden for the Empire Classic next week.

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