Get ready for some thrilling college basketball action! Purdue's rise to the top has everyone talking. The Boilermakers have claimed the No. 1 spot in the preseason AP Top 25, a first for the program, and it's creating quite a buzz. But here's where it gets interesting: they're ahead of last year's NCAA finalists, Houston and Florida.
Purdue's coach, Matt Painter, is thrilled with the ranking, but he's not resting on his laurels. He knows the real challenge lies ahead, and the team has a long way to go to maintain their position. This season, they'll be aiming to build on their recent success, which included a Sweet 16 appearance last year and a national title game run in 2023-24, led by the talented Zach Edey.
And this is the part most people miss: Purdue's journey to the top hasn't been an overnight success. It's been a gradual climb, with Painter, a former player under Gene Keady, building a strong program over his 21 seasons.
The top tier of the rankings includes Houston, led by Kelvin Sampson, who has guided the Cougars to their best-ever preseason AP ranking. Then there's Florida, coached by Todd Golden, who has earned the Gators their highest preseason ranking since their back-to-back title run in 2006-07.
But the controversy begins with the next team on the list: UConn. With just two first-place votes, some might argue they're overrated. Or are they the dark horse we've all been overlooking?
As we move down the rankings, we see familiar names like Duke, Michigan, and Kentucky, but it's the newcomers that catch our eye. BYU, with the nation's top recruit, A.J. Dybantsa, and Pat Kelsey's Louisville, who have made a quick transition from a 12-52 record to a top-15 ranking, are teams to watch.
The conference watch reveals an interesting trend: the SEC, Big Ten, and Big 12 dominate with 72% of the ranked teams. But will the ACC and Big East challenge this dominance?
And finally, a unique situation at Auburn, where coach Bruce Pearl's retirement has led to a family affair, with his son Steven taking over.
So, what do you think? Are the rankings accurate, or will there be some surprises this season? Feel free to share your thoughts and predictions in the comments!
