2009-2010 NCAA Basketball Pre-Season Coaches Poll

The first ESPN/USA today college basketball coaches poll was released with the Kansas Jayhawks occupying the number one spot in the poll. Kansas last year lost in the Sweet 16 to National Runner-up Michigan State, who once again is runner-up to start the season at number 2.  Michigan State returns a team that had a surprising tournament run after a disappointing regular season can the Spartans repeat the magic this season? Out of the Big 12 comes Texas to claim the number three position. Last season’s national champions the North Carolina Tar Heels lost most of its team to the NBA draft after graduation but are still ranked high due to another impressive crop of recruits. Kentucky looks to reclaim its spot amongst the elite of college basketball and rounds out the top 5.

At number six is Villanova who made it to the final four last season and lost to North Carolina. Purdue is a very good team and is on everyone’s radar nationally they start the season at number 7 in the coaches poll. After another loss in the Sweet 16 Duke starts the season will a mix of old faces and new recruits to start off at number 8. The Mountaineers of West Virginia are number 9, while the always tough team from Butler gets itself a top ten ranking.

Bruce Pearl’s Tennessee Volunteers look to avenge last years opening round loss with a better tournament showing this season as the start at number 11 in the land. California is number 12 followed by their Pac-10 conference competitors the Washington Huskies. The last of the final four teams from one season ago, the Connecticut Huskies are number 14. Followed by a resurgent Michigan program, which looks for consistency in the program’s performance.

At 16 overall is Oklahoma which lost the Griffin brothers to the NBA. At 17 is Thad Motta’s Ohio State Buckeyes representing the Big 10.  Also representing the big 10 is Minnesota at 18, followed by the SEC’s Mississippi State Bulldogs, and another ACC school Georgia Tech at number 20.

After several deep runs in the tournament Georgetown hopes it can produce similar results this year but they start ranked at number 21. The Dayton Flyers are always good for an upset but with a top 25 team is anything they do an upset anymore? Louisville with the issues of the Pitino scandal, come in ranked number 23. Finally Clemson and Syracuse are at 24 and 25 respectively.