Kentucky tops preseason coaches’ poll

McLean, VA (SportsNetwork.com) – Kentucky nearly captured the men’s basketball national championship last spring and will start this season as the top-ranked team in the preseason USA Today coaches’ poll.

The Wildcats were the top team in last year’s preseason poll, then struggled early in the season before making a stirring run in the NCAA Tournament. John Calipari’s team entered the tourney as an eighth seed, but advanced to the title game before falling short in a 60-54 loss to Connecticut.

There won’t be the usual re-tooling for the Wildcats, who didn’t suffer as many one-and-done players as in the recent past. Although Julius Randle and James Young did leave after their freshman seasons, Kentucky will return sophomores Andrew and Aaron Harrison, Dakari Johnson and Marcus Lee, as well as juniors Alex Poythress and Willie Cauley-Stein.

Kentucky received 24 first-place votes and 785 points from a nationwide panel of coaches to edge Arizona for the top spot. Arizona, which lost to Wisconsin in the regional finals last spring, picked up three No. 1 votes and 746 points, and was followed by Duke, Wisconsin and Kansas to round out the top five. Duke, a stunning loser to Mercer in its opening NCAA game in March, garnered two first-place votes and Wisconsin, which dropped a 74-73 heartbreaker to Kentucky in the national semifinals, earned three.

North Carolina, Florida, Virginia, Louisville and Texas complete the top 10. Florida lost to UConn in the Final Four last spring.

The second 10 consists of Wichita State, Villanova, Gonzaga, Iowa State, defending national champion Connecticut, VCU, San Diego State, Michigan State, Oklahoma and Ohio State. Wichita State was last undefeated team last season, winning its first 35 games before Kentucky ended the Shockers’ season with a 78-76 decision in the third round of the NCAA Tournament. Ryan Boatright, meanwhile, returns to lead UConn’s bid for back-to-back titles.

Nebraska, SMU, Michigan, Syracuse and Iowa are the last five teams ranked to start the season.

The Big Ten has the most ranked teams with six, while the ACC has five — including four in the top 10 with Louisville joining the conference this year.

Categorized in: NCAA Basketball