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The San Diego State Aztecs are ranked No. 17 in the USA Today Men's Basketball Coaches Poll.
This is SDSU's highest-ever preseason ranking in any poll. Its previous high was No. 20 in the 2012-13 preseason Coaches Poll. San Diego State is the only Mountain West team and the only California school in the top 25.
Of the teams in the top 25, SDSU had the fourth-best 2013-14 record at 31-5.
Coaches voted to rank the Aztecs ahead of long-time blue-blood schools like Michigan State (No. 18), Ohio State (No. 20), Michigan (No. 23) and Syracuse (No. 24).
None of SDSU's non-conference opponents are ranked in the top 25. Several opponents did, however, receive votes to be ranked. The Utah Utes, whom the Aztecs play on ESPN on November 17, got 26 votes. Kansas State (37 votes) and Pittsburgh (36 votes) are also potential opponents in the 2014 EA SPORTS Maui Invitational. SDSU may also clash with Arizona (No. 2) in the Maui Invitational championship game.
The New Mexico Lobos are next in line for the Mountain West and earned 11 points.
Here's the complete top 25:
1. | Kentucky |
2. | Arizona |
3. | Duke |
4. | Wisconsin |
5. | Kansas |
6. | North Carolina |
7. | Florida |
8. | Virginia |
9. | Louisville |
10. | Texas |
11. | Wichita State |
12. | Villanova |
13. | Gonzaga |
14. | Iowa State |
15. | UConn |
16. | VCU |
17. | San Diego State |
18. | Michigan State |
19. | Oklahoma |
20. | Ohio State |
21. | Nebraska |
22. | SMU |
23. | Michigan |
24. | Syracuse |
25. | Iowa |