Michigan is ranked ninth in USA Today’s Preseason Coaches Poll.
The Wolverines were ranked 5th in last year’s preseason poll and spent the entire season ranked in the top 11. Michigan ended last season ranked No. 2 overall after a loss to Louisville in the National Championship.
The Wolverines return last year’s freshmen stars Glenn Robinson III, Mitch McGary and Nik Stauskas but will also have to lean on highly touted freshmen Derrick Walton and Zak Irvin to help replace Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr.
The Wolverines are one of five Big Ten teams in the preseason top 25 and the second highest rated conference school. Michigan State is ranked highest among league teams at No. 2 while Ohio State (10), Wisconsin (21), and Indiana (24) are also ranked. Michigan will also face No. 4 Duke, No. 5 Arizona and could face No. 15 VCU in the non-conference season.
Michigan has also been tabbed as a preseason top-10 team by Lindy’s, Sporting News and Blue Ribbon.
Find the full poll after the jump.
| RANK | TEAM | RECORD | POINTS | FIRST PLACE VOTES | PREVIOUS RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kentucky | 21-12 | 767 | 16 | NR |
| 2 | Michigan St. | 27-9 | 749 | 3 | 13 |
| 3 | Louisville | 35-5 | 741 | 10 | 1 |
| 4 | Duke | 30-6 | 710 | 3 | 5 |
| 5 | Arizona | 27-8 | 637 | 0 | 14 |
| 6 | Kansas | 31-6 | 623 | 0 | 8 |
| 7 | Syracuse | 30-10 | 551 | 0 | 3 |
| 8 | Florida | 29-8 | 550 | 0 | 9 |
| 9 | Michigan | 31-8 | 548 | 0 | 2 |
| 10 | Ohio St. | 29-8 | 533 | 0 | 6 |
| 11 | North Carolina | 25-11 | 494 | 0 | NR |
| 12 | Oklahoma St. | 24-9 | 462 | 0 | NR |
| 13 | Memphis | 31-5 | 334 | 0 | 18 |
| 14 | Gonzaga | 32-3 | 270 | 0 | 12 |
| 15 | Va. Commonwealth | 27-9 | 258 | 0 | 23 |
| 16 | Wichita St. | 30-9 | 233 | 0 | 4 |
| 17 | Marquette | 26-9 | 230 | 0 | 11 |
| 18 | Oregon | 28-9 | 175 | 0 | 15 |
| 19 | Connecticut | 20-10 | 167 | 0 | NR |
| 20 | New Mexico | 29-6 | 153 | 0 | 19 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | 23-12 | 148 | 0 | 22 |
| 22 | Notre Dame | 25-10 | 128 | 0 | NR |
| 23 | UCLA | 25-10 | 121 | 0 | NR |
| 24 | Indiana | 29-7 | 118 | 0 | 7 |
| 25 | Virginia | 23-12 | 103 | 0 | NR |
Others Receiving Votes: Baylor 102; Colorado 93; Creighton 87; Iowa 86; Tennessee 73; Georgetown 38; Harvard 28; Pittsburgh 23; California 16; Boise State 11; Saint Louis 8; La Salle 7; Temple 4; Missouri 4; Villanova 4; Kansas State 3; LSU 2; Iowa State 2; Arizona State 2; Illinois 2; Georgia 1; UNLV 1.
