KU picked fifth in preseason AP Top 25 basketball poll

Kansas men’s basketball is preseason ranked No. 5 by the Associated Press (AP), which released its first poll of the 2013-14 season Thursday.

This marks the second-straight year, and the fourth time in the last five seasons, that the Jayhawks have entered the season No. 7 or higher by AP. Last year the Jayhawks were preseason No. 7, No. 1 in 2009-10 and No. 7 in 2010-11.

Historically, this is the eighth time in the 11-year Bill Self era that Kansas enters the season ranked seventh or higher in the Associated Press preseason poll and the No. 5 ranking marks the 16th time since the 1992-93 season that Kansas will enter the season seventh or higher.

Last season, KU entered the year No. 7 nationally in the Associated Press poll and ended at No. 3. The AP’s final poll is released prior to the NCAA Tournament. The Jayhawks were ranked in the top 10 in all but two AP polls during the 2012-13 season.

Kansas will play six regular-season games against teams ranked in the AP preseason poll: No. 4 Duke, No. 8 Oklahoma State (twice), No. 10 Florida and No. 25 Baylor (twice).

Kansas enters the season No. 6 in the preseason USA Today Coaches’ poll.

Kansas continues its exhibition play when it hosts Fort Hays State Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. in Allen Fieldhouse. The game can be seen on the Jayhawk Television Network or ESPN3 outside the state of Kansas. The Jayhawks’ regular-season opens against Louisiana at Monroe on Friday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m. in Allen Fieldhouse.

2013-14 Associated Press Preseason Poll (Oct. 31)
1. Kentucky (27)    21-12    1,546    —
2. Michigan St. (22)    27-9    1,543    9
3. Louisville (14)    35-5    1,501    2
4. Duke (2)    30-6    1,435    6
5. KANSAS    31-6    1,357    3
6. Arizona    27-8    1,311    21
7. Michigan    31-8    1,120    11
8. Oklahoma St.    24-9    1,093    17
8. Syracuse    30-10    1,093    16
10. Florida    29-8    1,048    14
11. Ohio St.    29-8    1,036    7
12. North Carolina    25-11    954    —
13. Memphis    31-5    741    19
14. VCU    27-9    680    —
15. Gonzaga    32-3    538    1
16. Wichita St.    30-9    512    —
17. Marquette    26-9    510    15
18. UConn    20-10    448    —
19. Oregon    28-9    408    25
20. Wisconsin    23-12    338    18
21. Notre Dame    25-10    332    23
22. UCLA    25-10    244    24
23. New Mexico    29-6    213    10
24. Virginia    23-12    189    —
25. Baylor    23-14    180    —

— KU Sports Information —