MIAMI, FL, Sporting Alert — Duke is the No. 1 team in the Associated Press preseason poll for the second straight season, according to the release on Wednesday.
The Blue Devils, who were also the top-ranked preseason team last term, collected 33 of the 65 first-place votes from a national media panel in the AP Top 25.
It’s the ninth time Duke is ranked No. 1 in AP preseason men’s basketball poll, matching rival North Carolina for most all time.
Mike Krzyzewski’s side has now been ranked No. 1 in 13 of the last 20 seasons and a total of 21 seasons overall.
The Blue Devils are expected to be led by senior guard Grayson Allen along with the nation’s top recruit, Marvin Bagley III, as well as fellow newcomers Trevon Duval, Gary Trent Jr and Wendell Carter Jr.
“It is an honor to be picked number one in your sport,” said head coach Krzyzewski on www.goduke.com.
“At this time of the year, it truly is a prediction, so you haven’t earned number one yet. More than likely, past teams that have played at Duke have put this team in a position where people might say, ‘How is that team going to do?’ or ‘They have a lot of talent’ and all of the sudden, you’re number one.
“Certainly, it’s an honor and we’ll look forward to trying to achieve and earn that ranking at some time during the season, hopefully at the end.”
Michigan State comes in at No. 2 after receiving 13 first-place votes, while No. 3 Arizona had 18 and Kansas got one top vote in No. 4.
The ever-dangerous Kentucky rounded out the top 5 and is followed by Villanova, Wichita State, Florida, defending national champion North Carolina and Southern California in the Top 10.
West Virginia is at No. 11, followed by Cincinnati, Miami, Notre Dame and Minnesota in the Top 15.
Louisville, Xavier, Gonzaga, Northwestern and Purdue make up 16 through 20, with UCLA, Saint Mary’s, Seton Hall, Baylor and Texas A&M completing the final five spots.
Wisconsin, Alabama, Virginia, Oklahoma, Maryland and Oregon were among the other teams receiving preseason votes.
Associated Press preseason poll Top 25
1 Duke (33)
2 Michigan State (13)
3 Arizona (18)
4 Kansas (1)
5 Kentucky
6 Villanova
7 Wichita State
8 Florida
9 North Carolina
10 USC
11 West Virginia
12 Cincinnati
13 Miami
14 Notre Dame
15 Minnesota
16 Louisville
17 Xavier
18 Gonzaga
19 Northwestern
20 Purdue
21 UCLA
22 Saint Mary’s
23 Seton Hall
24 Baylor
25 Texas A&M
Others receiving votes: Alabama 86, Virginia 57, Rhode Island 49, TCU 46, Providence 34, Missouri 19, Virginia Tech 16, Wisconsin 14, Butler 13, Texas 10, Oklahoma 7, Maryland 7, Nevada 7, Michigan 6, Dayton 5, Middle Tennessee 4, Ball State 4, SMU 3, Oakland 2, Oregon 2, UCF 1, South Carolina 1, Harvard 1
The Duke- Blue Devils has ranked number 1, once again in the Associated Press preseason poll. Blue devils has earned 33 of the 65 first place votes. It is not actually surprising as it is their Ninth time being on the number 1 spot in AP preseason men’s basketball poll.