TUCSON, Ariz. – For the second straight season, and eighth time in the last decade, the University of Arizona men's basketball team will open the season with a top-25 ranking in both major college basketball polls.
Arizona was ranked 12th in the 2012-13 preseason Associated Press poll released today, receiving a total of 902 points, marking Arizona's highest appearance in the preseason national rankings since 2006-07 when both the AP and the coaches' poll ranked UA 10th to open the season.
Since the start of the 1987-88 campaign, Arizona has been ranked in 21 of 26 preseason media polls in that period with the only exceptions coming in 1995-96, 2001-02, 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11.
UA received a No. 16 preseason ranking from the AP a year ago.
The Wildcats open 2012-13 with an exhibition game against Humboldt State on Wednesday, Oct. 31, at 6:30 p.m. PDT in McKale Center. The regular season opener vs. Charleston Southern is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 11, at 4 p.m.
Associated Press Poll
Preseason, Oct. 26, 2012
Rnk School (first-place votes) Points Last
1. Indiana (43) 1,592 16
2. Louisville (20) 1,568 17
3. Kentucky (2) 1,543 1
4. Ohio State 1,292 7
5. Michigan 1,290 13
6. North Carolina State 1,270 NR
7. Kansas 1,210 6
8. Duke 1,094 8
9. Syracuse 1,062 2
10. Florida 936 25
11. North Carolina 904 4
12. ARIZONA 902 NR
13. UCLA 840 NR
14. Michigan State 789 5
15. Missouri 664 3
16. Creighton 622 19
17. Memphis 539 NR
18. UNLV 488 23
19. Baylor 486 9
20. San Diego State 463 22
21. Gonzaga 384 NR
22. Notre Dame 297 NR
23. Wisconsin 285 14
24. Cincinnati 120 NR
25. Florida State 101 10
