(AP) The Kansas mens basketball team is a comfortable No. 1 in the Associated Press preseason basketball poll released Monday.
KU received 37 of 65 first-place votes, which easily outpaced second-place Kentucky when it came to total points (1,581-1,529).
Obviously we lost a lot off last years team with Devonte, Svi (Mykhailiuk) and Malik (Newman), so Im a little surprised that the writers put us there this preseason, KU coach Bill Self said in a statement to the Associated Press. Its definitely a spot we welcome and certainly know the goal is to be playing to that ranking by when it counts the most.
With the young players, we know its going to take some time before were anywhere close to where were going to be, but I do like this team and I think we have a chance to be very good.
Gonzaga was third, followed by Duke and Virginia.
Kansas State was 12th, while other Big 12 schools West Virginia (13) and TCU (20) also earned an initial ranking.
KU previously was ranked No. 1 in the preseason AP poll in the 2004-05 and 2009-10 seasons.
Preseason AP poll
Team (First-place votes) Points
1. Kansas (37) 1,581
2. Kentucky (19) 1,529
3. Gonzaga (1) 1,461
4. Duke (4) 1,452
5. Virginia (2) 1,286
6. Tennessee (1) 1,268
7. Nevada 1,230
