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College basketball is a mere three weeks away from tipping off on Nov. 8, and with date rapidly approaching the USA Today coaches poll released its preseason ballot on Thursday.
There are four teams splitting first-pace votes between Kentucky, Michigan State, Louisville, and Duke; however it is Kentucky who is ranked preseason No. 1. Defending national champion Louisville had the second most first-place votes with 10, but are in third behind Michigan State.
As for the Mountain West, the New Mexico Lobos are the only ranked team from the league, and they are No. 20. The Lobos return four starters from last years's squad and also bring in one of the top junior college transfers in Deshawn Delaney and also bring in Cullen Neal who is a three-star recruit, plus he is the son of new Lobos head coach Craig Neal.
Boise State does get some consideration from the coaches and come in with 20 votes, and then UNLV is getting a single 25th place from one coach.
Here is the complete rankings:
| RANK | TEAM | RECORD | POINTS | PREVIOUS RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kentucky (16) | 21-12 | 767 | NR |
| 2 | Michigan St. (3) | 27-9 | 749 | 13 |
| 3 | Louisville (10) | 35-5 | 741 | 1 |
| 4 | Duke (3) | 30-6 | 710 | 5 |
| 5 | Arizona | 27-8 | 637 | 14 |
| 6 | Kansas | 31-6 | 623 | 8 |
| 7 | Syracuse | 30-10 | 551 | 3 |
| 8 | Florida | 29-8 | 550 | 9 |
| 9 | Michigan | 31-8 | 548 | 2 |
| 10 | Ohio St. | 29-8 | 533 | 6 |
| 11 | North Carolina | 25-11 | 494 | NR |
| 12 | Oklahoma St. | 24-9 | 462 | NR |
| 13 | Memphis | 31-5 | 334 | 18 |
| 14 | Gonzaga | 32-3 | 270 | 12 |
| 15 | Va. Commonwealth | 27-9 | 258 | 23 |
| 16 | Wichita St. | 30-9 | 233 | 4 |
| 17 | Marquette | 26-9 | 230 | 11 |
| 18 | Oregon | 28-9 | 175 | 15 |
| 19 | Connecticut | 20-10 | 167 | NR |
| 20 | New Mexico | 29-6 | 153 | 19 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | 23-12 | 148 | 22 |
| 22 | Notre Dame | 25-10 | 128 | NR |
| 23 | UCLA | 25-10 | 121 | NR |
| 24 | Indiana | 29-7 | 118 | 7 |
| 25 | Virginia | 23-12 | 103 | NR |
| Schools Dropped Out |
| Others Receiving Votes |
| Baylor 102; Colorado 93; Creighton 87; Iowa 86; Tennessee 73; Georgetown 38; Harvard 28; Pittsburgh 23; California 16; Boise State 11; Saint Louis 8; La Salle 7; Temple 4; Missouri 4; Villanova 4; Kansas State 3; LSU 2; Iowa State 2; Arizona State 2; Illinois 2; Georgia 1; UNLV 1. |