It’s that time of year again! The Associated Press (AP) has released its preseason Top 25 men’s basketball poll, and the Kansas Jayhawks are at the top of the list. With a total of 1,567 points, Kansas earned 33 of the 65 first-place votes to take the No. 1 spot. Duke and Purdue followed closely behind with 1,539 and 1,521 points, respectively. Five teams in total received first-place votes, including Gonzaga, Virginia, Kentucky, and North Carolina.
The Jayhawks have been a powerhouse in college basketball for years, and this season is no different. Led by head coach Bill Self, the team is coming off a Big 12 regular-season championship and an Elite Eight appearance in last year’s NCAA tournament. Kansas is also returning four starters from last season, including senior guard Devon Dotson and junior forward Udoka Azubuike.
Duke and Purdue are also expected to be strong contenders this season. The Blue Devils are led by freshman phenom Vernon Carey Jr., while the Boilermakers have a deep roster that includes Carsen Edwards and Matt Haarms. Both teams have the potential to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament.
The rest of the top 10 includes Virginia (No. 4), Gonzaga (No. 5), Kentucky (No. 6), North Carolina (No. 7), Michigan State (No. 8), Louisville (No. 9), and Maryland (No. 10). Other notable teams in the Top 25 include Villanova (No. 11), Seton Hall (No. 12), Florida State (No. 13), and Oregon (No. 14).
It’s sure to be an exciting season of college basketball, with Kansas leading the way as the preseason No. 1 team in the AP Top 25 poll. With five teams receiving first-place votes, it’s clear that there is no clear-cut favorite this year. It’s anyone’s game, and it will be interesting to see which team rises to the top come March Madness.
