For the second straight year and the fourth time in seven years, I’ve volunteered to vote on the AP men’s basketball poll.
It’s a task I take seriously. I try to solicit opinions from different writers and coaches throughout the country before casting my preseason vote.
The preseason poll is due to be released Thursday. I ranked Florida at No. 11, and expect the Gators to end up being ranked anywhere from the 10-15 range.
Florida has a chance to move up in the rankings quickly. The Gators face a pair of projected top 10 teams in the first two months of the season. Florida will host Ohio State, a team I ranked at No. 5, on Nov. 16. The Gators will then face Kansas State (my preseason No. 4) on Dec. 18 at the Orange Bowl Classic in Sunrise.
Here’s my preseason ballot. Feel free to debate, discuss:
1. Duke
2. Michigan State
3. Pittsburgh
4. Kansas State
5. Ohio State
6. Villanova
7. Kansas
8. Gonzaga
9. Syracuse
10. Purdue
11. Florida
12. Kentucky
13. North Carolina
14. Baylor
15. Memphis
16. Missouri
17. Illinois
18. Butler
19. Washington
20. Tennessee
21. Temple
22. San Diego State
23. Wisconsin
24. Virginia Tech
25. BYU
Preseason All-America team
pg — Jimmer Fredette, BYU
sg — Jacob Pullen, Kansas State
sf — Kyle Singler, Duke
pf — Trey Thompkins, Georgia
C — JaJuan Johnson, Purdue
Preseason polls are a joke. Voting on teams you have yet to see an ounce of basketball from. Luckily though in basketball the championship game is not decided by hack reporters with way too much time on their hands. Take note BCS.
I have a hard time putting UK in there until I see them play someone. They lack depth, too, and with freshmen leading the way that is a bad thing as the season progresses. Also, one or two injuries and they’re toast.
BILLY-BALL!!!!!!!!!!