Preseason AP Poll
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The Purdue men's basketball team is ranked No. 15 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll released earlier today.
The Boilermakers garnered 672 votes to sit firmly in 15th place, 27 points behind 14th-ranked Gonzaga and ahead of No. 16-ranked Connecticut (540 points). Purdue is one of five Big Ten teams ranked, joining Wisconsin (9th), Indiana (11th), Michigan State (12th) and Maryland (25th). Ohio State (18 points) and Michigan (8 points) were other Big Ten teams receiving votes.
Among top-25 teams, Purdue will face Villanova (No. 4), Wisconsin (No. 9), Indiana twice (No. 11), Louisville (No. 13), Michigan State twice (No. 12) and Maryland (No. 25). Among teams receiving votes, Purdue will face Ohio State twice (18 points), Michigan (8 points) and Notre Dame (6 points).
Purdue was 1-of-11 teams nationally to be ranked in every poll a year ago. It's the second straight year Purdue has been ranked in the AP preseason poll after being voted 23rd a year ago.
It's Purdue's highest preseason ranking since being ranked 14th in the 2010-11 poll.
Purdue faces Division II power Southern Indiana on Tuesday, Nov. 1, in Mackey Arena, for the squad's lone exhibition game. The season opener will come Nov. 11, when McNeese State visits Mackey Arena.
The Boilermakers return three starters and eight letterwinners from last year's team that posted a 26-9 record and was ranked in the nation's top 25 all year long. This year's team is ranked in the top 20 of nearly all preseason polls.
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