Kansas has been named the top team in the AP Top 25 preseason men’s basketball poll for the upcoming season, receiving the No. 1 spot on 30 out of 60 national media ballots. This places them ahead of Alabama and two-time defending national champion UConn in the rankings.
The Crimson Tide, which features standout players like All-American guard Mark Sears and Jarin Stevenson, garnered 14 first-place votes. Meanwhile, UConn, aiming to replicate the impressive feat of winning three consecutive titles — a record last achieved by John Wooden’s UCLA teams — secured 11 first-place votes, landing them in third place. Houston follows in fourth with four first-place votes, while Iowa State, which returns its top four scorers from a successful NCAA Tournament appearance as a No. 2 seed, ranks fifth. Gonzaga rounds out the top six with one first-place vote.
In the top ten, Duke comes in seventh, bolstered by consensus No. 1 recruit Cooper Flagg, while Baylor, North Carolina, and Arizona fill out the remaining positions.
Although Kansas was also ranked preseason No. 1 last year, their campaign faced challenges, marred by injuries and struggles during the Big 12 season. Ultimately, Hunter Dickinson, the All-American center leading the team, saw the Jayhawks eliminated first by Cincinnati in the conference tournament and then by Gonzaga in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
This offseason, Kansas coach Bill Self restructured his roster, bringing in one of the country’s top transfer classes. New additions such as A.J. Storr from Wisconsin, Zeke Mayo from South Dakota State, and Rylan Griffen from Alabama are set to join returning seniors Dajuan Harris Jr. and KJ Adams Jr., both integral parts of their 2022 national championship squad. This combination aims to create a deeper and more competitive team overall.
“We embrace being No. 1, especially with our returning players like Hunter, Dajuan, and KJ, complemented by the new additions,” Self commented. “Our ultimate goal is to be No. 1 when the season ends. While we appreciate this recognition, it’s not the final objective.”
The adjusted Big 12 conference has welcomed new members Arizona, Arizona State, Utah, and Colorado, replacing Oklahoma and Texas. This change resulted in an impressive display of talent in the preseason AP poll, with three Big 12 teams in the top five and five in the top ten. In contrast, the SEC tops the rankings with nine teams appearing in the Top 25.
Following the top 10, No. 11 Auburn is joined by Tennessee and Texas A&M, while Purdue and Creighton complete the second tier of the rankings. John Calipari’s Arkansas sits at No. 16, flanked by Indiana, Marquette, Texas, and Cincinnati, which is making its first poll appearance since 2019, in the top 20.
Purdue aims to achieve a third successive Big Ten title despite the departure of AP Player of the Year Zach Edey. “We’re bringing back three starters from a Final Four team and adding five freshmen. We have an abundance of experience beyond those three starters, and we’re eager for the season,” commented Purdue coach Matt Painter.
The preseason Top 25 is rounded out by Florida, UCLA, Kentucky, Ole Miss, and Rutgers.
“We are thrilled with the expectations,” said Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell, whose team is ranked in the preseason for the first time since 1978. “We have always had high hopes, and now in an 18-team league, people ask, ‘How good are you?’ It’s a challenging environment, but our recent practices have shown promise.”
Outside the Top 25
Illinois leads the teams receiving votes, following its Elite Eight run last season. St. John’s, led by Rick Pitino, finds itself on the verge of breaking into the rankings alongside Xavier, Texas Tech, and Wake Forest. The first regular-season poll will be released on November 11.
Making History
Four schools that have never entered the Top 25 received preseason votes, with McNeese State being the most notable after returning to the NCAA Tournament last year. Little Rock, Grand Canyon, and High Point also garnered votes.
Statistics and Streaks
Kansas earns the No. 1 preseason ranking for the fifth time, trailing only North Carolina (10), Duke (9), and UCLA (8) for the most since the preseason rankings began in 1962. … Houston holds the record for the longest active Top 25 streak at 86 weeks, with Kansas following at 65 weeks. … Iowa State has achieved its best preseason ranking ever, while Texas A&M has matched its best. … Kentucky has made the preseason poll for a record 57th time, and North Carolina is making its 55th appearance.
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