Kentucky opens at No. 23 in Coaches Poll to begin season

After earning a No. 23 ranking in the preseason Associated Press (AP) poll earlier this month, Kentucky comes in at No. 23 in the 2024-25 season’s first edition of the USA Today Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll, announced Wednesday.  

Kentucky has flaunted a preseason coaches’ poll ranking 59 times dating back to the inaugural poll in 1950. The Cats have made 955 total appearances in the rankings, which are in their 75th season of existence.  

Kansas begins the season as the preseason No. 1 ranked team. Rounding out the top five include Alabama, UConn, Houston and Duke. The full preseason rankings are available via USA Today 

Top 25 Coaches’ Poll opponents on Kentucky’s schedule this year include Alabama (No. 2), Gonzaga (No. 7), Auburn (No. 11), Tennessee (No. 12), Texas A&M (No. 15), Arkansas (No. 16), Texas (No. 19), Florida (No. 21) and Ole Miss (No. 25). Clemson, Ohio State and Mississippi State are receiving votes.  

The nine SEC schools represented in the poll are the most of any conference.  

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