[Brock Landers]

USA TODAY TOP 25

1 Indiana (21) 27-9
2 Louisville (5) 30-10
3 Kentucky (5) 38-2
4 Ohio State 31-8
5 Michigan 24-10
6 North Carolina State 24-13
7 Kansas 32-7
8 Duke 27-7
9 Syracuse 34-3
10 Florida 26-11
11 Arizona 23-12
12 North Carolina 32-6
13 UCLA 19-14
14 Michigan State 29-8
15 Creighton 29-6
16 Memphis 26-9
17 Missouri 30-5
18 Baylor 30-8
19 UNLV 26-9
20 San Diego State 26-8
21 Wisconsin 26-10
22 Gonzaga 26-7
23 Notre Dame 22-12
24 (tie) Florida State 25-10
24 (tie) Texas 20-14

Others receiving votes: Saint Louis (26-8) 58; Virginia Commonwealth (29-7) 40; Cincinnati (26-11) 33; Murray State (31-2) 30; Kansas State (22-11) 13; Saint Mary's (27-6) 11; New Mexico (28-7) 10; Tennessee (19-15) 10; Minnesota (23-15) 9; Pittsburgh (22-17) 9; Marquette (27-8) 8; Stanford (26-11) 7; Butler (22-15) 6; Oklahoma State (15-18) 6; Colorado State (20-12) 4; Middle Tennessee (27-7) 3; Drexel (29-7) 2; Georgia (15-17) 2; Miami (Fla.) (20-13) 2; St. Joseph's (20-14) 2; Marshall (21-14) 1.

The USA TODAY Sports Board of Coaches is made up of 31 head coaches at Division I institutions. All are members of the National Association of Basketball Coaches. The board for the 2012-13 season: Tommy Amaker, Harvard; Tevester Anderson, Jackson

[CanuckG]

Gonzaga always solid

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Brock, how much pressure on Crean?

[mynameismud]

good info guy. i love that michigan is #5.

[Brock Landers]

Brock, how much pressure on Crean?

tons...and that team is NOT #1 material, they'll lose plenty of games

[Louisvillekid1]

Louisville will be number #1 at the end of the season, its all that matters

[mynameismud]

Louisville will be number #1 at the end of the season, its all that matters

was wondering how long it would take for you to say that.

[boatboatboat]

Ohio State in top ten AGAIN, in football and basketball.

No other program is at the top, year after year , after year in these two sports the way OSU is.

[SteelRain]

Louisville will be number #1 at the end of the season, its all that matters

is siva coming back?

[Brock Landers]

Louisville will be number #1 at the end of the season, its all that matters

who is back/gone from last years team?

Blackshear was supposed to be a STUD

[rm18]

almost everyone back except Kuric, JR SMith's brother gone too

[Louisvillekid1]

who is back/gone from last years team?

Blackshear was supposed to be a STUD

Everybody back, Only Kuric and Chris Smith gone...

And Yes Siva is back for his senior campaign, we are finally healthy (knock on wood)

[Louisvillekid1]

was wondering how long it would take for you to say that.

7 minutes

6 too long

[Louisvillekid1]

Noel just got cleared to play for UK

[Emily_Haines]

Kentucky and Kansas rated too high

[Deuce]

3 Big 10 in top 5

[Wilfred]

Ohio State in top ten AGAIN, in football and basketball.

No other program is at the top, year after year , after year in these two sports the way OSU is.

Big Buckeye fan here but I think we are a tad over rated in this poll. Loss of Sullinger and a dormant recruiting season. Unless Amir Williams or Evan Ravenel can step up and replace Sully we will be in the 15-25 range all year.

[Louisvillekid1]

NC ST should be 4 imo

[marcojuiceman]

Indiana have Offense No D at all

[Brock Landers]

Who's beating Kentucky...they got all kinds of top talent from the HS levels

[Louisvillekid1]

Louisville

[SteelRain]

NC ST should be 4 imo

lol why because of last year?

get real, team is good but not in the top 10 imo

[Holtgetsback]

Indiana have Offense No D at all

don't be surprised if Oladipo emerges as big ten defensive player of the year

[Brock Landers]

It's laughable that Indiana is #1, this is a team that will have multiple losses.

[ChalkyDog]

If I were ranking right now, I have UL number 1, UK at 2, NC St. 3, Indiana/UM 4/5.

Indiana is good, but I don't think Crean can get it done, and there is just something about that team that seems suspect.

UL has crazy good talent, and coaching to match. That press they run is a nightmare - especially come tourney time.

UK, I give deference. I think they are no where near as good as last year. Noel isn't as good as expected. I feel he is rather one dimensional. Although that one dimension is elite.

UM is a very fun team, and I like their whole system.

NC St. is loaded with talent. They really came on strong. I expect big things from them this year.

Side Note:

UCLA could tumble out of the rankings. Their ranking is very dependent on Shabazz and Kyle Anderson being eligible. For my money, those guys are the 2 best recruits in the country for this 2012 class. If both those guys are eligible, UCLA is a top 5 team, with the only question mark being down low. I don't care what the rankings say, seeing both them play - those guys would have been drafted lottery if they were allowed to jump from HS.

The eligibility issue is more serious than I first thought, especially with Kyle Anderson. I know for a fact Bazz is rolling around the campus in a $150K range rover, while being investigated for improper monetary benefits.

I also think Howland is not who he was during those final four runs. He has a serious disconnect with his players, and he recruits kids that are incredibly talented, but do nothing for his system - which is very disciplined.

[Ghenghis Kahn]

Louisville will be number #1 at the end of the season, its all that matters

i'm still pissed they gave up with over 30 seconds left in the game...

[Ghenghis Kahn]

If I were ranking right now, I have UL number 1, UK at 2, NC St. 3, Indiana/UM 4/5.

Indiana is good, but I don't think Crean can get it done, and there is just something about that team that seems suspect.

UL has crazy good talent, and coaching to match. That press they run is a nightmare - especially come tourney time.

UK, I give deference. I think they are no where near as good as last year. Noel isn't as good as expected. I feel he is rather one dimensional. Although that one dimension is elite.

UM is a very fun team, and I like their whole system.

NC St. is loaded with talent. They really came on strong. I expect big things from them this year.

Side Note:

UCLA could tumble out of the rankings. Their ranking is very dependent on Shabazz and Kyle Anderson being eligible. For my money, those guys are the 2 best recruits in the country for this 2012 class. If both those guys are eligible, UCLA is a top 5 team, with the only question mark being down low. I don't care what the rankings say, seeing both them play - those guys would have been drafted lottery if they were allowed to jump from HS.

The eligibility issue is more serious than I first thought, especially with Kyle Anderson. I know for a fact Bazz is rolling around the campus in a $150K range rover, while being investigated for improper monetary benefits.

I also think Howland is not who he was during those final four runs. He has a serious disconnect with his players, and he recruits kids that are incredibly talented, but do nothing for his system - which is very disciplined.

wtf is going on with shabazz? i'd be so disappointed if he's not eligible.

[ABEHONEST]

Indiana have Offense No D at all

Gosh, don't dare make a statement such as that, close to a Hoosier fan.They all believe they have captured the Golden Goose.
I am surprised with some of your IU comments. I also have serious doubts about them.
Watch out for UK by the time March arrives. They are absolutely loaded! The Books have them at #2 on short odds, I think?

What happened to the ACC, BIG EAST, and the SEC? Someone coming from there will surprise.

[ABEHONEST]

It's laughable that Indiana is #1, this is a team that will have multiple losses.

I have doubts too, but where is your logic coming from?

[Big Bear]

does ohio state have any good freshmen players??? and potential 1 and dones like kentucky always has?

[zoo youk]

did i really just read indiana has no offense and they dont deser number one ranking? do u guys know anything abiut college ball? cody zeller is going to be national player of the year, they are returning watford who can drop 30 a game and have couple 5 starmrecruits coming in. this is a final four team.

[zoo youk]

Who's beating Kentucky...they got all kinds of top talent from the HS levels

yeah but absolutely no experience. Cal has always had atleast one upper classmen to lean on. not this year. theyll drop a few road games easily cause of that

[JT OZ]

does ohio state have any good freshmen players??? and potential 1 and dones like kentucky always has?

Only able to bring in one player who could carve out a role as a shooter off the bench but wasn't highly-rated. Other than that they seem to have more depth than in the past few years and LaQuinton Ross has the makings of a very good player if he gets his defense up enough to crack the starting 5.

[MJT1212]

NC STATE BABY

Highest pre season rank in close to 20 years

[MJT1212]

^if not more