Getty Image / David Berding
One of the most exciting days for any college sports fan is the release of the preseason polls in whatever sport it may be. And, on Monday, this year’s AP Preseason College Basketball came out.
It’s shaping up to be a great college basketball season, with many of the power programs looking to have great teams. But, one conference, in particular, got snubbed in the preseason poll.
There were some usual faces at the top of the college basketball top 25
Fresh off their Cinderella run to the national finals last year, North Carolina is the top-ranked team in the country.
North Carolina is No. 1 in the preseason AP Top 25 men's college basketball poll 👀 pic.twitter.com/9c9mO5LJoe
— 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 (@sportingnews) October 17, 2022
The Tar Heels return four starters from that team, including three players named to the College Hoops Today Preseason All-American team. Rebounding machine Armando Bacot was selected to the first time, and guard tandem Caleb Love and RJ Davis were selected to the 2nd and 3rd teams, respectively.
They weren’t the only Blue Blood program near the top, as all five of the traditional Blue Bloods were ranked in the top 8.
Kentucky was #4, Kansas was #5, Duke was #7, and UCLA was #8.
The rest of the top five features two mid-major programs in Gonzaga and Houston, though it’s tough to call either program a true mid-major.
There were no Big Ten teams in the top 10
Surprisingly, there were no Big Ten teams in the top 10 and only three in the top 25. Only #13 Indiana, #22 Michigan and #23 Illinois made the list. Last season, nine Big Ten teams made the NCAA tournament. But, they were terrible in the tournament, and only two made the second weekend.
Notably, top 25 mainstay Michigan State is not in the top 25.
The season kicks off the 2nd weekend of November.