UK falls out of the AP Poll

Kentucky+head+coach+John+Calipari+reacts+after+a+mistake+by+Kentucky+during+the+game+against+Texas+A%26amp%3BM+on+Tuesday%2C+January+9%2C+2018+in+Lexington%2C+Kentucky.+Kentucky+won+74-73.+Photo+by+Arden+Barnes+%7C+Staff

Kentucky head coach John Calipari reacts after a mistake by Kentucky during the game against Texas A&M on Tuesday, January 9, 2018 in Lexington, Kentucky. Kentucky won 74-73. Photo by Arden Barnes | Staff

Kernel Sports Staff

For the first time since March 10, 2014, Kentucky has been left out of the AP Top 25 as the Cats were not ranked in the latest AP Poll.

This marks the third time during John Calipari’s tenure at Kentucky that the Cats have been ranked outside the top 25. The other two times came during the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 seasons.

The Cats dropped in the rankings because of back-to-back losses to South Carolina and Florida. The loss to Florida was Calipari’s seventh overall loss in Rupp Arena since becoming the head coach of UK. 

Because of the win, Florida climbed up to No. 20 after previously being unranked. Florida is one of three SEC teams to be ranked along with Tennessee and Auburn.

UK’s two games this week will be against Mississippi State and at No. 7 West Virginia. UK has a win streak over both opponents and will look to avoid losing three straight games for the first time since the 2008-2009 season.