Michigan State debuted as the preseason No. 1 college basketball team in the land in Monday’s Associated Press poll, followed by Kentucky and Kansas.
Duke and Louisville round out the top five, followed by Florida, Maryland, Gonzaga, North Carolina and Villanova. Reigning NCAA champion Virginia slots in at No. 11.
No. 1 Michigan State and No. 2 Kentucky will square off in the Champions Classic Nov. 5 at Madison Square Garden, while No. 3 Kansas faces No. 4 Duke.
Led by senior guard Myles Powell, Seton Hall debuted at No. 12. The Pirates host Michigan State Nov. 14 at the Prudential Center.
Penny Hardaway and his loaded Memphis team, featuring projected No. 1 pick James Wiseman, are at No. 14.
Led by senior guard Cassius Winston, the Spartans are the favorites to win the NCAA title this year.
Led by Coach Tom Izzo, the Spartans have been to every NCAA Tournament since 1998 and have reached eight Final Fours. Yet they’ve won just one NCAA title (2000) during that time.
“We’ve really been pretty damn consistent, and that means a lot to me,” Izzo said, per Mike DeCourcy. “It’s easy to have a good team or a good couple years. But if you can stay where you’re consistently competing, where every year you think you have a chance to win the league or every year you think you have a chance to go deep into the tournament — I couldn’t ask more out of my career so far. This year, I’m going to ask a little more out of my career because I’d like to get that second sometime.”
“I don’t think I have to win another one to validate what I’ve done. I think I have to win another to validate what I want.”
AP POLL:
1-Michigan State (32-7)
2-Kentucky (30-7)
3-Kansas (26-10)
4-Duke (32-6)
5-Louisville (20-14)
6-Florida (20-16)
7-Maryland (23-11)
8-Gonzaga (33-4)
9-North Carolina (29-7)
10-Villanova (26-10)
11-Virginia (35-3)
12-Seton Hall (23-14)
13-Texas Tech (31-7)
14-Memphis (22-14)
15-Oregon (25-13)
16-Baylor (20-14)
17-Utah State (28-7)
18-Ohio State (20-15)
19-Xavier (19-16)
20-Saint Mary’s (22-12)
21-Arizona (17-15)
22-LSU (28-7)
23-Purdue (26-10)
24-Auburn (30-10)
25-VCU (25-8)
Others receiving votes:Washington 164, Colorado 152, Tennessee 78, Marquette 68, Florida St. 36, Davidson 34, Harvard 24, Illinois 14, Missouri 13, Mississippi St. 12, Houston 11, Georgetown 11, Cincinnati 8, Notre Dame 7, Creighton 4, Syracuse 3, NC State 3, Vermont 2, Alabama 2, Southern Cal 2, Liberty 2, Michigan 2, Dayton 1, Colgate 1, Providence 1.
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