MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin's men's basketball team will open the 2012-13 season ranked No. 21 in the USA Today coaches poll, released Wednesday.
The Badgers return four of five starters — guard Josh Gassser, forward Mike Bruesewitz, forward Ryan Evans and center Jared Berggren. They also should benefit from the addition of highly touted freshman Sam Dekker, a 6-foot-7 forward from Sheboygan, Wis.
Despite the top 25 spot, Wisconsin is ranked behind four Big Ten teams.
Indiana is ranked No. 1 with 761 points and received 21 of 31 first-place votes. It is the Hoosiers' first top ranking since the end of the 1992-93 regular season.
Louisville, Kentucky, Ohio State and Michigan round out the top five. The Cardinals and Wildcats each received five first-place votes. Michigan State is No. 14.
The full USA Today top-25 is listed below:
1. Indiana
2. Louisville
3. Kentucky
4. Ohio State
5. Michigan
6. North Carolina State
7. Kansas
8. Duke
9. Syracuse
10. Florida
11. Arizona
12. North Carolina
13. UCLA
14. Michigan State
15. Creighton
16. Memphis
17. Missouri
18. Baylor
19. UNLV
20. San Diego State
21. Wisconsin
22. Gonzaga
23. Notre Dame
T24. Florida State
T24. Texas
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