Nick KrugWhen the 2014-15 preseason USA Today Coaches poll was unveiled Thursday, Kansas University’s men’s basketball team landed in the top five — No. 5, to be exact.
The Jayhawks, under the tutelage of 12th-year KU coach Bill Self, received 654 points in the initial rankings, falling behind No. 1 Kentucky (785), No. 2 Arizona (746), No. 3 Duke (715) and No. 4 Wisconsin (706).
KU was one of four Big 12 teams to crack the Top 25, joined by No. 10 Texas, No. 14 Iowa State and No. 19 Oklahoma.
Former KU coaches Roy Williams (North Carolina, No. 6) and Larry Brown (SMU, No. 22) also had their teams occupying spots on the early list.
Kansas will face No. 1 Kentucky on Nov. 18., in Indianapolis. No. 7 Florida visits Allen Fieldhouse on Dec. 5.
No. 1 — Kentucky
No. 2 — Arizona
No. 3 — Duke
No. 4 — Wisconsin
No. 5 — Kansas
No. 6 — North Carolina
No. 7 — Florida
No. 8 — Virginia
No. 9 — Louisville
No. 10 — Texas
No. 11 — Wichita State
No. 12 — Villanova
No. 13 — Gonzaga
No. 14 — Iowa State
No. 15 — Connecticut
No. 16 — Virginia Commonwealth
No. 17 — San Diego State
No. 18 — Michigan State
No. 19 — Oklahoma
No. 20 — Ohio State
No. 21 — Nebraska
No. 22 — SMU
No. 23 — Michigan
No. 24 — Syracuse
No. 25 — Iowa
