The Kentucky Wildcats fell out of the latest Associated Press men's college-basketball poll Monday, completing a historic fall for the reigning champions. Kentucky (4-3) started the season ranked No. 3, slid to No. 8 and now is the victim of the biggest single-week drop from the rankings since the poll expanded to 25 teams in 1990.

Coach John Calipari can point to the team's inexperience and overhauled roster for the early-season struggles. But history shows that the Wildcats are in for a very long season.

Since 1984-85, Kentucky is just the eighth team ranked in the top three of the preseason AP poll to fall out of the rankings. None of the other seven advanced past the round of 32 in the NCAA tournament. That's a bad omen for the Wildcats, whose 55-game home winning streak came to an end in their loss to Baylor Saturday.

Kentucky's Ryan Harrow (12) and Alex Poythress (22) walk off the court after losing 64-55 to Baylor in an NCAA college basketball game at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky. Associated Press

What makes Kentucky's fall so stunning is how quickly it unraveled in the eyes of the pollsters. In 2010-11, for instance, the preseason No. 2 (Michigan State) and No. 3 (Kansas State) both fell out of the poll, but not until mid-January. In 2009-10, No. 3 Texas didn't drop out until March.

Then again, it could be worse. In 1986, defending champion Louisville started the season No. 2. The Cardinals promptly lost their first three games and were never heard from again.

—Jared Diamond