For the 1st time since 2019, both Kentucky and Louisville are ranked in AP's preseason poll

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- For the first time since 2019, both Kentucky and Louisville men's basketball programs are entering a season ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 preseason poll — and this time, the Bluegrass rivals are side-by-side in the national conversation.

Kentucky, retooled under second-year head coach Mark Pope, opens the 2025-26 season at No. 9, its highest preseason ranking since that same 2019-20 campaign when it began at No. 2. Meanwhile, Pat Kelsey's Louisville squad lands at No. 11, marking the Cardinals' first appearance in the AP preseason poll since they debuted at No. 5 in 2019.

Together, it's their best combined preseason ranking in six years — a hopeful sign for two proud programs navigating the post-Calipari and post-Pitino eras.

Louisville | Kentucky | Indiana | Eric Crawford

And both are powered by second-year head coaches making fast impressions.

Louisville went 12-52 in the two seasons before Kelsey's arrival, and hopes are high after he won 27 games in his debut season.

Kentucky is back in single-digit rankings behind a revamped and deep roster for Pope's second season.

Those are two of five programs in the preseason rankings led by second year coaches -- a list that that also includes Michigan (No. 7), BYU (No. 8) and Arkansas (No. 14), now led by John Calipari.

Purdue tops the poll for the first time

While the local buzz centers around the Cardinals and Wildcats, it's Purdue that claims the No. 1 spot — the first preseason No. 1 ranking in school history. The Boilermakers earned 35 of 61 first-place votes, edging out last season's NCAA runner-up Houston at No. 2 and reigning champion Florida at No. 3.

UConn (No. 4) and Rick Pitino's St. John's (No. 5) round out the top five — the latter securing its best preseason ranking ever under Pitino.

“We're thrilled that people think this highly of our team, but there is a long way to go,” Purdue coach Matt Painter told the AP. “The goal is to be No. 1 in April.”

The Boilermakers return a core including AP All-American point guard Braden Smith and top scorer Trey Kaufman-Renn, hoping to finally break through for their first national title.

Fast risers, historic lows

Duke (No. 6) and Michigan (No. 7) sit just outside the top five, followed by BYU (No. 8), Kentucky (No. 9), and Texas Tech (No. 10).

Notably, Kansas opens the season at No. 19 — its lowest preseason ranking since 2008-09, when the Jayhawks also followed a national championship season. Auburn, now led by Steven Pearl after his father Bruce's surprise retirement, checks in at No. 20.

The SEC, Big Ten and Big 12 each placed six teams in the poll, accounting for 72% of the field. The ACC and Big Eastfollowed with three teams apiece.

Others receiving votes

Just outside the Top 25, N.C. State under Will Wade was the first team left out of the poll — just three points behind No. 25 North Carolina, with Oregon also in striking distance.