The USA Today Sports men’s basketball coaches poll was released today and the Florida Gators will start the season ranked No. 7.
The USA Today men’s basketball coaches poll is conducted weekly throughout the regular season by a panel of Division I head coaches. Each of the 32 Division I conferences that receive an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament are represented in the panel that is chosen by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
Since the 2008-2009 season, the Gators have been ranked in the top-25 of the coaches’ poll seven times. Out of those seven seasons, the Gators were ranked in the top-10 five times.
With an Elite Eight appearance in five out of the last eight seasons, it is understandable why the Gators are consistently ranked so highly.
With the return of experienced players in Chris Chiozza, Kevaughn Allen, John Egbunu and Kevarrius Hayes, along with talented transfers and incoming freshmen, Coach Mike White and his team look to have all the pieces needed in order to make another deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
Duke topped the poll, but the Gators weren’t the only school to represent the SEC in the rankings. Kentucky (4) and Alabama (25) both were voted in by coaches. Texas A&M, Missouri, Georgia, Arkansas and South Carolina all received votes in the poll, but narrowly avoided landing in the top-25.
USA TODAY SPORTS PRESEASON MEN’S BASKETBALL COACHES POLL
- Duke
- Michigan State
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Arizona
- Villanova
- Florida
- Wichita State
- North Carolina
- West Virginia
- USC
- Miami
- Cincinnati
- Notre Dame
- Minnesota
- Louisville
- Xavier
- UCLA
- Gonzaga
- Northwestern
- Purdue
- St. Mary’s
- Seton Hall
- Baylor
- Alabama