Kentucky dropped three spots to No. 12 in the updated Coaches Poll released Monday after losing 74-69 to Vanderbilt last weekend. The Wildcats have lost three of their last five SEC games to Georgia, Alabama and the Commodores.

Kentucky will have two marquee matchups this week in conference play. The Wildcats face Tennessee on the road Tuesday and then host Arkansas on Saturday in what should be one of the most entertaining games on the college basketball calendar as former coach John Calipari returns to Lexington.

Speaking of Vanderbilt, the Commodores did not enter the poll after upsetting Kentucky, but received the fourth-most votes among teams not ranked. The Commodores have won three of its last four games, which includes top-10 wins over Tennessee and Kentucky.

Vanderbilt and Tennessee are two of the nine SEC teams with at least four wins in conference play heading into the final week of January. Auburn, the unanimous No. 1 in this week’s poll, is the only SEC team that has yet to lose in conference play.

Iowa State jumped Alabama for No. 3. 

St. John’s had the biggest jump, rising seven spots to No. 14 after Wednesday’s 79-71 overtime win vs. Xavier.

UConn dropped six spots to No. 24 after Saturday’s 76-72 loss to the Musketeers dropped the Huskies to 14-6 this season.

Coaches Poll

1. Auburn (31)
2. Duke
3. Iowa State
4. Alabama
5. Houston
6. Florida
7. Michigan State
8. Tennessee
9. Marquette
10. Purdue
11. Kansas
12. Kentucky
13. Mississippi State
14. St. John’s
15. Texas A&M
16. Memphis
17. Wisconsin
18. Oregon
19. Texas Tech
20. Illinois
21. Missouri
22. Louisville
23. Ole Miss
24. UConn
25. Clemson

Also receiving votes: Michigan 67; Gonzaga 55; Maryland 50; Vanderbilt 44; Saint Mary’s 41; Arizona 41; Utah State 22; Creighton 18; West Virginia 17; Georgia 6; Baylor 4; New Mexico 3; UC Irvine 1;