The first USA Today Coaches Poll has been released and the Kentucky Wildcats come in at No. 2, much like their AP ranking. This marks the ninth straight season that Kentucky has been given at least a top five ranking in the coaches poll to start the season. The last season that Kentucky did not start in the top five was the 2010-2011 season, in which they started ranked 10th.
The top five teams are the same as the AP with Michigan State, Kentucky, Kansas, Duke, and Louisville leading the way. Those five teams seem to be the consensus best five teams in the country according to the coaches and AP.
Kentucky will play eight teams in the top 25 coaches poll, including two games against Florida, Tennessee, and Auburn in conference play.
Here’s what the coaches poll looks like:
- Michigan State Spartans
- Kentucky Wildcats
- Kansas Jayhawks
- Duke Blue Devils
- Louisville Cardinals
- Florida Gators
- Gonzaga Bulldogs
- Maryland Terrapins
- Virginia Cavaliers
- Villanova Wildcats
- North Carolina Tar Heels
- Texas Tech Red Raiders
- Seton Hall Pirates
- Oregon Ducks
- Memphis Tigers
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Arizona Wildcats
- Baylor Bears
- Utah State Aggies
- St. Mary’s Gaels
- Xavier Musketeers
- Purdue Boilermakers
- Auburn Tigers
- LSU Tigers
- Tennessee Volunteers
Do you have any issues with the way the coaches voted? Is No. 2 the right spot for the Wildcats?