Although it was not unanimous, the opening ESPN/USA Today Top 25 has Kansas as the number one team in that nation by a hefty margin. Despite pre-season distractions, it is apparent that the world of college basketball agrees that The Jayhawks have a team built for the top spot.
Michigan State, which finished as the runner-up in the 2009 NCAA tournament, starts the 2009-10 campaign second in the poll.
After a 23-12 finish last season, Texas makes a big jump to the No. 3 spot. With the additions of guys like Avery Bradley, J’Covan Brown and Jordan Hamilton (just to name a few), many feel that the Longhorns may be one of the main contenders in Kansas’ way of both a Big XII and national championship this season. Reigning national champion North Carolina starts out in the fourth position.
Kentucky, Villanova, Purdue, Duke, West Virginia and Butler round out the top 10. After a tumultuous off-season, the Tigers fall in as the 27th team under the “Others Receiving Votes”, which puts them at 52nd. Tulsa, who many expect to win Conference USA this season, came in at 13th in the “Others Receiving Votes” category.
Click here to see the full ESPN/USA Today Top 25.
Have something to say? Talk about it on our message board!
Not a member? No problem. It's easy and FREE to sign-up here. Already a member? Join the conversation!