Texas Ranked No. 10 in The Associated Press preseason poll
AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas men’s basketball team is ranked No. 10 in The Associated Press preseason poll announcedFriday. The ranking marks the first time the Horns have appeared in the AP preseason poll since the 2009-10 season, when UT began the year at No. 3.
Texas has now made 15 appearances in school history in the AP preseason poll. Prior to its four-year absence from the preseason rankings, the Longhorns were ranked in the AP preseason poll for nine consecutive years (2001-02 through 2009-10).
UT was tabbed No. 6 in 1978-79, No. 22 in 1990-91, No. 16 in 1996-97, No. 22 in 1997-98, No. 21 in 1999-2000, No. 23 in 2001-02, No. 4 in 2002-03, No. 12 in 2003-04, No. 16 in 2004-05, No. 2 in 2005-06, No. 21 in 2006-07, No. 15 in 2007-08, No. 7 in 2008-09 and No. 3 in 2009-10.
The Longhorns are one of four Big 12 Conference teams selected in the AP preseason Top 25. Kansas is ranked No. 5, while Iowa State is No. 14 and Oklahoma is No. 19.
UT will face at least two opponents in its non-conference schedule who are ranked in the AP preseason Top 25: No. 1 Kentucky (Dec. 5in Lexington) and No. 17 Connecticut (Nov. 30 in Storrs). The Longhorns could also face No. 23 Syracuse in the 2K Classic benefiting Wounded Warrior Project on Nov. 21 in New York City.
Texas opens the 2014-15 season with a home game against North Dakota State on Friday, Nov. 14 as part of the 2K Classic benefiting Wounded Warrior Project. Tip is set for 7 p.m. Central at the Frank Erwin Center, and the game will be televised nationally by Longhorn Network.
The Associated Press Preseason Poll (Oct. 31, 2014)
Team (First-Place Votes) Points
1. Kentucky (52) 1,604
2. Arizona (5) 1,518
3. Wisconsin (8) 1,483
4. Duke
5. Kansas
6. North Carolina 1,274
7. Florida
8. Louisville
9. Virginia
10. TEXAS 1,061
11. Wichita State 1,027
12. Villanova
13. Gonzaga
14. Iowa State 781
15. VCU
16. San Diego State 560
17. Connecticut
18. Michigan State 521
19. Oklahoma 426
20. Ohio State 340
21. Nebraska
22. SMU
23. Syracuse
24. Michigan
T25. Harvard
T25. Utah