One season removed from a disappointing, second round NCAA Tournament exit at the hand of in-state Dayton, Ohio State finds themselves back in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll Top 25.
The Buckeyes understandably finished unranked in last season's final poll (Dayton was No. 18) but begin this season eyeing a deeper stay into the postseason. Earlier Thursday, the Buckeyes were picked to finish third in the Big Ten conference by voting media.
Joining Ohio State in the Top 25 are Wisconsin (No. 4), Michigan State (No. 18), Nebraska (No. 21), Michigan (No. 23), and Iowa (No. 25). Dayton does not reprise their space in the Top 25. The Flyers were snubbed at Atlantic 10 media day earlier this week when VCU was the unanimous choice to win the league this season.
Here's the complete preseason USA TODAY Coaches Poll Top 25:
RANK | TEAM | RECORD | POINTS | 1ST PLACE VOTES | PREV | CHANGE | HI/LOW |
1 | Kentucky | 29-11 | 785 | 24 | NR | - | - |
2 | Arizona | 33-5 | 746 | 3 | NR | - | - |
3 | Duke | 26-9 | 715 | 2 | NR | - | - |
4 | Wisconsin | 30-8 | 706 | 3 | NR | - | - |
5 | Kansas | 25-10 | 654 | 0 | NR | - | - |
6 | North Carolina | 24-10 | 598 | 0 | NR | - | - |
7 | Florida | 36-3 | 568 | 0 | NR | - | - |
8 | Virginia | 30-7 | 519 | 0 | NR | - | - |
9 | Louisville | 31-6 | 507 | 0 | NR | - | - |
10 | Texas | 24-11 | 479 | 0 | NR | - | - |
11 | Wichita State | 35-1 | 471 | 0 | NR | - | - |
12 | Villanova | 29-5 | 439 | 0 | NR | - | - |
13 | Gonzaga | 29-7 | 423 | 0 | NR | - | - |
14 | Iowa St. | 28-8 | 323 | 0 | NR | - | - |
15 | Connecticut | 32-8 | 292 | 0 | NR | - | - |
16 | Virginia Commonwealth | 26-9 | 259 | 0 | NR | - | - |
17 | San Diego State | 31-5 | 251 | 0 | NR | - | - |
18 | Michigan State | 29-9 | 241 | 0 | NR | - | - |
19 | Oklahoma | 23-10 | 237 | 0 | NR | - | - |
20 | Ohio State | 25-10 | 223 | 0 | NR | - | - |
21 | Nebraska | 19-13 | 156 | 0 | NR | - | - |
22 | Southern Methodist Univ. | 27-10 | 149 | 0 | NR | - | - |
23 | Michigan | 28-9 | 139 | 0 | NR | - | - |
24 | Syracuse | 28-6 | 128 | 0 | NR | - | - |
25 | Iowa | 20-13 | 56 | 0 | NR | - | - |