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First AP preseason college basketball poll has Gonzaga, UCLA, Kansas ahead of pack

The Gonzaga Bulldogs are right back to the top after falling 40 minutes short of a perfect season last year.

Head coach Mark Few of the Gonzaga Bulldogs looks on during the National Championship game of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament against the Baylor Bears at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 05, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

The first AP college basketball poll of the 2021-22 season is here, and the Gonzaga Bulldogs are listed as the No. 1 team in the country.

Despite losing Jalen Suggs to the NBA and having no Mark Few for the early season thanks to a DUI charge, the Zags return Drew Timme and Andrew Nembhard to a team that adds 7’0 freshman and No. 1 prospect Chet Holmgren.

UCLA was just seconds from being eliminated in the First Four of the NCAA Tournament last year. Instead Mick Cronin and the Bruins ended up in the Final Four, and return Johnny Juzang to Westwood for his junior year in a move that surprised plenty. Juzang should be one of the favorites for the Wooden Award this fall.

And at No. 3 is Kansas, who still hasn’t gotten the all-clear from the FBI, but is still recruiting at a high level. Grad transfer Remy Martin from Arizona State to Lawrence should make an impact right away, and the Jayhawks have never lost two Big 12 titles in a row. They should be right back on time of the league this season after falling to Oklahoma State in 2021.

The only “mid-major” on the board is No. 23 St. Bonaventure, who return all five starters from last year’s A-10 champs, and add Quadry Adams from Wake Forest and Abdul Karim Coulibaly, who was Pitt’s leading shooter last season.

Here is the complete AP Preseason College Basketball Poll on October 18th:

College Basketball AP Poll Week 14

Ranking Team Last poll Conference Votes
Ranking Team Last poll Conference Votes
1 Auburn (22-1) 1 Southeastern 1,506 (48)
2 Gonzaga (19-2) 2 West Coast 1,477 (13)
3 Purdue (20-3) 4 Big Ten 1,329
4 Arizona (19-2) 7 Pacific 12 1,300
5 Kentucky (19-4) 5 Southeastern 1,288
6 Houston (20-2) 6 American Athletic 1,205
7 Duke (19-3) 9 Atlantic Coast 1,179
8 Kansas (19-3) 10 Big 12 1,173
9 Texas Tech (18-5) 14 Big 12 947
10 Baylor (19-4) 8 Big 12 921
11 Providence (20-2) 15 Big East 899
12 UCLA (16-4) 3 Pacific 12 881
13 Illinois (17-5) 18 Big Ten 818
14 Wisconsin (18-4) 11 Big Ten 706
15 Villanova (17-6) 12 Big East 634
16 Ohio State (14-5) 16 Big Ten 628
17 Michigan State (17-5) 13 Big Ten 536
18 Marquette (16-7) 24 Big East 522
19 Tennessee (16-6) 22 Southeastern 377
20 Texas (17-6) 23 Big 12 294
21 USC (19-4) 19 Pacific 12 278
22 Saint Mary's (19-4) NR West Coast 185
23 Murray State (22-2) NR Ohio Valley 178
24 Connecticut (15-6) 17 Big East 118
25 Xavier (16-6) 21 Big East 91