Kansas has been selected as the No. 1 team in the AP Top 25 preseason men's basketball poll, receiving 30 first-place votes from a national media panel. The Jayhawks are followed by Alabama and two-time defending national champion UConn in the rankings.
Alabama, led by All-American guard Mark Sears and Jarin Stevenson, secured 14 first-place votes, while UConn, aiming to achieve a historic third consecutive title, received 11 first-place votes to claim the third spot in the poll.
Other notable teams in the top 10 include Houston, Iowa State, and Gonzaga, with Duke, Baylor, North Carolina, and Arizona rounding out the top rankings.
Kansas, which held the preseason No. 1 spot last year as well, is looking to bounce back from a challenging season plagued by injuries and disappointing performances. Coach Bill Self has revamped the team in the offseason, adding top transfer players to complement returning stars like Hunter Dickinson, Dajuan Harris Jr., and KJ Adams Jr.
The Big 12 conference, despite losing Oklahoma and Texas, remains strong with three teams in the top five and five in the top 10 of the preseason poll. The SEC leads with nine teams in the Top 25.
Outside the top 10, teams like Auburn, Tennessee, and Texas A&M are positioned in the second 10, with Purdue, Creighton, and Arkansas also making appearances in the rankings.
Several schools are aiming to make history this season, with four teams receiving preseason votes for the first time. Notable streaks and statistics include Kansas' fifth No. 1 preseason ranking, Houston's 86-week streak in the Top 25, and Kentucky's record 57th appearance in the preseason poll.
As the season approaches, anticipation is high for the competitive matchups and potential upsets that will unfold in the world of college basketball.
Stay tuned for more updates and alerts on the AP Top 25 rankings throughout the season.
