The nation’s coaches feel almost as strongly about the 2015-16 Kansas University basketball team as those who make their living in the Big 12 do.
The overwhelming conference favorite landed at No. 5 in the preseason USA Today Coaches’ Poll.
The Jayhawks, who also were picked No. 5 in last year’s initial Top 25, come in behind some fellow blue bloods, as well as a surging Big Ten program.
Kentucky landed the No. 1 spot this preseason, but has to share that honor with North Carolina, as both teams earned 749 points. UNC actually had 12 first-place votes, compared to Kentucky’s 11.
No. 3 Maryland and No. 4 Duke also were picked ahead of KU.
The coaches' preseason #hoops poll is out from the gang at @USATodaySports: http://t.co/aZA9GEcHFr pic.twitter.com/ZOUnrfCmJb
— AP Top 25 (@AP_Top25) October 15, 2015
Iowa State, whom Kansas coach Bill Self voted as the No. 1 team in the Big 12 (coaches can’t vote for their own teams), came in at No. 7, followed by fellow another conference foe, Oklahoma, at No. 8.
The Big 12’s Baylor (No. 21) and West Virginia (No. 23) also cracked the preseason Top 25.
(First-place votes) — points
No. 1. Kentucky (11) – 749
No 1. North Carolina (12) – 749
No. 3. Maryland (5) – 723
No. 4. Duke (3) – 686
No. 5. Kansas (1) – 675
No. 6. Virginia – 667
No. 7. Iowa State – 541
No. 8. Oklahoma – 520
No. 9. Villanova – 498
No. 10. Arizona – 477
No. 11. Gonzaga – 468
No. 12. Wichita State – 461
No. 13. Michigan State – 386
No. 14. California – 350
No. 15. Indiana – 312
No. 16. Utah – 250
No. 17. Wisconsin – 181
No. 18. Notre Dame – 172
No. 19. LSU – 163
No. 20. Vanderbilt – 153
No. 21. Baylor – 145
No. 22. Butler – 132
No. 23. West Virginia – 125
No. 24. Connecticut – 110
No. 24. Purdue – 110