College basketball is just around the corner, and the Associated Press released its preseason top 25 today. As expected, defending champion Duke occupies the top spot, with fellow Final Four participant Michigan State holding steady at No. 2. However, the Pac-10 Conference is not highly thought of, with only one team in the top 25 of the initial college basketball poll of the season.
The Washington Huskies, who advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament last season as a No. 11 seed, are ranked No. 18 in the AP poll, the only Pac-10 team in the top 25. Washington was the only Pac-10 team in the Sweet 16 last season. The Arizona Wildcats (No. 37) and UCLA Bruins (No. 41) are the only other conference teams in the "others receiving votes" section, meaning the Pac-10 only has three teams in the AP top 50. Ouch.
UCLA, 14-18 last season, opens its season on Nov. 12 against CSU Northridge. The USC Trojans, 16-14 last year, opens one night later against UC Irvine.
Complete preseason AP Top 25 college basketball poll:
1. Duke
2. Michigan State
3. Kansas State
4. Ohio State
5. Pittsburgh
6. Villanova
7. Kansas
8. North Carolina
9. Florida
10. Syracuse
11. Kentucky
12. Gonzaga
13. Illinois
14. Purdue
15. Missouri
16. Baylor
17. Butler
18. Washington
19. Memphis
20. Georgetown
21. Virginia Tech
22. Temple
23. Tennessee
24. BYU
25. San Diego State
For more local college basketball news, be sure to read the SB Nation blogs for UCLA (Bruins Nation) and USC (Conquest Chronicles).