(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
8. North Carolina 1,221
9. Villanova (1) 1,085
10. Michigan State 1,024
11. Auburn 974
12. Kansas State 922
13. West Virginia 678
14. Oregon 638
15. Virginia Tech 630
16. Syracuse 620
17. Florida State 530
18. Mississippi State 451
19. Michigan 437
20. TCU 311
21. UCLA 297
22. Clemson 268
23. LSU 187
24. Purdue 170
25. Washington 165
Others receiving votes: Loyola Chicago 162, Marquette 124, Indiana 98, Florida 71, Nebraska 35, Maryland 28, Wisconsin 24, Notre Dame 22, Cincinnati 21, Alabama 15, Central Florida 15, Arizona 14, Buffalo 14, Louisville 11, Miami 10, San Diego State 9, Butler 6, Southern California 6, Texas Tech 6, Texas 5, Arizona State 3, St. Johns 3, Providence 2, Xavier 2, Davidson 1, Marshall 1, Missouri 1, N.C. State 1.
