Terry Gilliam - AP
14 days ago: Ohio State coach Thad Matta, left, talks with freshman Jared Sullinger (0) during the NCAA college basketball squad's media day Thursday, Oct. 14, 2010, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Terry Gilliam)
Don't look now, but the College Basketball season is right around the corner. The first AP Poll of the year has been released, with familiar names sprinkled throughout the Top-25. Beginning the year at #1 will be the Duke Blue Devils, the defending National Champions. The Blue Devils are loaded with talent and will try to become the first repeat champions since Florida did it 4 years ago.
The Big Ten is well represented with Michigan State at #2, while the Buckeyes of Ohio State sit at #4. Thad Matta has his best recruiting clas yet in Columbus and should be right in the thick of it come March Madness time. Kansas State, sandwiched in-between the two Big Ten powers, starts at #3, the highest ranking the Wildcats have seen to start a season since 1962.
The Big Ten is also represented in the Top-15 by llinois and Purdue, 13 and 14 respectively, and you can surely bet Wisconsin will find it's way into the Top-25 before season's end.
As for Butler, the surprise National runner-up last season, they come in at 17.
The full poll is below:
- Duke
- Michigan State
- Kansas State
- Ohio State
- Pittsburgh
- Villanova
- Kansas
- North Carolina
- Florida
- Syracuse
- Kentucky
- Gonzaga
- Illinois
- Purdue
- Missouri
- Baylor
- Butler
- Washington
- Memphis
- Georgetown
- Virginia Tech
- Temple
- Tennessee
- BYU
- San Diego State
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