Gonzaga enters as a 4.5-point favorite despite a lopsided 101-61 loss to Michigan, highlighting the anticipation of their status against a ranked foe after a rough setback.

Kentucky currently sits at 5-3 with no top-200 wins per BartTorvik and losses to Louisville, Michigan State, and North Carolina, fueling questions about their SEC prospects.

Kentucky is under heavy scrutiny as a high-revenue program facing questions about its expensive roster and recent underperformance, compounded by injuries to key players Jaland Lowe and Jayden Quaiantance.

The Top 25 And 1 section notes ongoing movement and upcoming tests for programs including Arizona, Purdue, Michigan, UConn, BYU, Duke, Iowa State, Michigan State, and Gonzaga, without detailing every weekly shift.

Arizona remains No. 1 in the CBS Sports Top 25 And 1 for the 16th straight day, with no changes stemming from Thursday’s results.

The Kentucky-Gonzaga showdown in Nashville at Bridgestone Arena is framed as a potential turning point for Kentucky to salvage its season, especially as they face a ranked Gonzaga and a challenging path to upset them 213 miles from Rupp Arena.

The matchup is a neutral-court non-conference game in Nashville, with Gonzaga ranked No. 9 and Kentucky No. 24, setting the stage for a high-stakes early-season test.