UCLA’s win over Kentucky vaults Bruins to No. 2 in the country

UCLA's win at Kentucky Saturday earned the Bruins a No. 2 ranking in the AP poll

UCLA’s win at Kentucky Saturday earned the Bruins a No. 2 ranking in the AP poll

UCLA was handsomely rewarded by the poll voters for its victory over Kentucky on Saturday in the program’s first game ever in historic Rupp Arena.

The Bruins moved up nine spots to No. 2 in the Associated Press poll, their first time in the top five since 2008. They are ranked only behind No. 1 Villanova, the defending national champions. Here is my story with more details about the historic rise in the polls.

Kentucky, which was No. 1 when UCLA defeated it, 97-92, dropped to No. 6 in he AP poll. Villanova received 57 of the 65 first-place votes, but UCLA earned two first-place votes. No. 3 Baylor, which began the season unranked, received the remaining six first-place votes.

Week 5 Associated Press men’s college basketball poll:
1. Villanova (57)
2. UCLA (2)
3. Kansas
4. Baylor (6)
5. Duke
6. Kentucky
7. North Carolina
8. Gonzaga
9. Indiana
10. Creighton
11. Louisville
12. Saint Mary’s
13. Xavier
14. Virginia
15. West Virginia
16. Butler
17. Wisconsin
18. Purdue
19. South Carolina
20. Arizona
21. Florida
22. Cincinnati
23. Notre Dame
24. Oregon
25. Iowa State
Others receiving votes: Syracuse 45, USC 43, Ohio State 40, TCU 33, Florida State 18, Virginia Tech 11, California 10, Maryland 9, Valparaiso 7, Wichita St 5, Michigan State 3, Temple 3, UNC Wilmington 1, Minnesota 1, Fort Wayne 1