Kentucky and its roster full of high school All-Americas is the narrow choice over Michigan State in The Associated Press' preseason college basketball poll.
The Wildcats, who finished last season with an NIT opening-round loss at Robert Morris, received 27 first-place votes and 1,546 points from the 65-member national media panel.
The Spartans, who return four starters from the team that lost to Duke in the NCAA tournament's round of 16, snared 22 first-place votes and 1,543 points.
Defending national champion Louisville received 14 first-place votes and was third while Duke, which received the other two No. 1 votes, was fourth.
Kansas was fifth and was followed by Arizona and Michigan. Oklahoma State and Syracuse tied for eighth and Florida rounded out the Top Ten.
1. Kentucky (27)
2. Michigan St. (22)
3. Louisville (14)
4. Duke (2)
5. Kansas
6. Arizona
7. Michigan
8. Oklahoma St.
8. Syracuse
10. Florida
11. Ohio St.
12. North Carolina
13. Memphis
14. VCU
15. Gonzaga
16. Wichita St.
17. Marquette
18. UConn
19. Oregon
20. Wisconsin
21. Notre Dame
22. UCLA
23. New Mexico
24. Virginia
25. Baylor
