The SEC has five teams in the preseason AP top 25 poll, with Kentucky leading the way.
The Wildcats come in at No. 2 in the rankings while Tennessee joins them in the top 10 at No. 6.
Auburn, who returns a host of key contributions after capturing a share of the SEC regular season title, sits at No. 11 in the poll.
It's back! Restocked Kansas is No. 1 in preseason AP Top 25 men’s basketball poll, ahead of Kentucky, Gonzaga, Duke, Virginia. See the full poll here: https://t.co/zRMwd70u1Q pic.twitter.com/63YDfjI8Px
— AP Top 25 (@AP_Top25) October 22, 2018
Mississippi State enters the poll for the first time in many years at No. 18, and LSU also makes its return at No. 23.
Here’s the full top 25:
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Gonzaga
- Duke
- Virginia
- Tennessee
- Nevada
- North Carolina
- Villanova
- Michigan State
- Auburn
- Kansas State
- West Virginia
- Oregon
- Virginia Tech
- Syracuse
- Florida State
- Mississippi State
- Michigan
- TCU
- UCLA
- Clemson
- LSU
- Purdue
- Washington
Florida was fourth on the others receiving votes list with 71 overall, and Alabama was next up with 15 votes.
Missouri did receive one vote, but that likely came prior to the announcement of Jontay Porter’s season-ending ACL and MCL tear on Sunday night.
The league set a record with NCAA Tournament teams last season and should be able to match or exceed that number heading into one of the most anticipated seasons in years.