Arizona men’s basketball will open the season No. 2 in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
The Kentucky Wildcats are the No. 1 team in the poll released on Thursday.
No. 2 is the UA’s highest preseason ranking since 2002, when the Wildcats were No. 1. Arizona was No. 5 last season in the preseason coaches poll.
The Wildcats have been ranked in the top-five of the coaches poll for 22 straight polls, including the No. 1 spot for eight weeks.
Arizona and Kentucky played in the 1997 national championship game, which the Arizona Wildcats won. UK finished second in the country in 2014, while Arizona lost in the Elite Eight.
The Wildcats lost Nick Johnson and Aaron Gordon to the NBA, but add the No. 6 recruiting class according to ESPN.
The AP poll will be released on Halloween. Arizona is No. 1 in The Sporting News’ preseason rankings.
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