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The Associated Press announced its top 25 preseason rankings for the 2018-19 season just after 12-noon on Monday.
Writers from the AP have tabbed the Villanova Wildcats at #9 in their poll. The Wildcats, who received a single first-place vote, have now been ranked in the preseason top 10 in three consecutive seasons. This also marks the fifth-straight time Villanova starts the season ranked in the top 25.
Kansas takes home the top spot in the first poll of the year collecting 37 of 65 votes, followed by Kentucky, Gonzaga, Duke, and Virginia in the Top 5.
Tennessee, Nevada, and North Carolina are also ahead of ‘Nova. Michigan State rounds out the Top 10.
No other BIG EAST team is in the Top 25, but Marquette, Butler, St. John’s, Providence, and Xavier are receiving votes.
2018-19 AP Preseason Poll
| RK | TEAM | RECORD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| RK | TEAM | RECORD | PTS |
| 1 | Kansas (37) | 0-0 | 1,581 |
| 2 | Kentucky (19) | 0-0 | 1,529 |
| 3 | Gonzaga (1) | 0-0 | 1,461 |
| 4 | Duke (4) | 0-0 | 1,452 |
| 5 | Virginia (2) | 0-0 | 1,286 |
| 6 | Tennessee (1) | 0-0 | 1,268 |
| 7 | Nevada | 0-0 | 1,230 |
| 8 | North Carolina | 0-0 | 1,221 |
| 9 | Villanova (1) | 0-0 | 1,085 |
| 10 | Michigan St | 0-0 | 1,024 |
| 11 | Auburn | 0-0 | 974 |
| 12 | Kansas St | 0-0 | 922 |
| 13 | West Virginia | 0-0 | 678 |
| 14 | Oregon | 0-0 | 638 |
| 15 | Virginia Tech | 0-0 | 630 |
| 16 | Syracuse | 0-0 | 620 |
| 17 | Florida St | 0-0 | 530 |
| 18 | Mississippi St | 0-0 | 451 |
| 19 | Michigan | 0-0 | 437 |
| 20 | TCU | 0-0 | 311 |
| 21 | UCLA | 0-0 | 297 |
| 22 | Clemson | 0-0 | 268 |
| 23 | LSU | 0-0 | 187 |
| 24 | Purdue | 0-0 | 170 |
| 25 | Washington | 0-0 | 165 |