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The Associated Press announced its top 25 preseason rankings for the 2017-18 season just after 12-noon on Wednesday.
Similar to the Coaches’ Poll, the Villanova Wildcats also were seated at No. 6 in the AP Poll. The Wildcats have now been ranked in the preseason top 10 in back-to-back seasons, after previously starting the 2016-17 season at No. 4. This also marks the fourth-straight time Villanova starts the season ranked in the top 25.
Villanova is joined by other Big East brethren in the rankings, as Xavier (No. 17) and Seton Hall (No. 23) also made the list. Providence and Butler are also receiving votes.
AP Top 25 Preseason Poll
| RANK | TEAM | PTS |
|---|---|---|
| RANK | TEAM | PTS |
| 1 | Duke (33) | 1,572 |
| 2 | Michigan State (13) | 1,520 |
| 3 | Arizona (18) | 1,506 |
| 4 | Kansas (1) | 1,439 |
| 5 | Kentucky | 1,340 |
| 6 | Villanova | 1,284 |
| 7 | Wichita State | 1,270 |
| 8 | Florida | 1,100 |
| 9 | North Carolina | 1,047 |
| 10 | USC | 995 |
| 11 | West Virginia | 840 |
| 12 | Cincinnati | 837 |
| 13 | Miami | 836 |
| 14 | Notre Dame | 814 |
| 15 | Minnesota | 642 |
| 16 | Louisville | 570 |
| 17 | Xavier | 544 |
| 18 | Gonzaga | 500 |
| 19 | Northwestern | 473 |
| 20 | Purdue | 362 |
| 21 | UCLA | 340 |
| 22 | Saint Mary's | 333 |
| 23 | Seton Hall | 274 |
| 24 | Baylor | 163 |
| 25 | Texas A&M | 130 |