The preseason USA Today/ESPN coaches’ poll was released Thursday, and the Cats are ranked No. 5 in the country.
UK didn’t finish in the top 25 last year, but with the addition of new head coach John Calipari, a highly regarded recruiting class and the return of preseason All-American Patrick Patterson, the Cats checked into the top five.
Kansas received the No. 1 spot in the poll with Michigan State, Texas, North Carolina and the Cats rounding out the top five.
Villanova came in at No. 6 after making it to the Final Four a year ago. The rest of the top ten is Purdue at No. 7, Duke, West Virginia and Butler.
The Southeastern Conference had three teams make the top 25, with Tennessee coming in at No. 11 and defending SEC Tournament champion Mississippi State at No. 19.
Vanderbilt was ranked just outside of the top 25 at No. 30.
Three teams from last season’s Final Four made the top six. The Big East Conference put six teams in the top 25, the most of any conference.
The Cats are scheduled to face five teams in the top 25, including No. 4 UNC, No. 14 Connecticut and No. 23 Louisville.
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