Kentucky drops out of AP poll for first time since 2014; Florida returns

For the first time since the final poll of the 2013-14 season, Kentucky finds itself unranked.

The Wildcats, who were ranked 18th in last week’s AP poll, lost consecutive games to South Carolina and Florida to fall to 14-5 on the season and 4-3 in SEC play. Kentucky had been ranked in the AP poll for 68 consecutive weeks, which included every poll in the 2014-15, 2015-16, and 2016-17 seasons. Kentucky received 38 votes in this week’s poll.

Meanwhile, Florida — which won at Rupp Arena on Saturday to improve to 14-5 overall and 6-1 in the SEC — jumped back into the poll for the first time since December 11. The Gators are ranked 20th this week.

Two other SEC teams remained in the poll this week. Auburn, which took its second loss of the season, dropped two spots to 19th. Tennessee, which split a pair of road games at Missouri and South Carolina, dropped one spot to 22nd but remained in the polls for the eighth consecutive week.