Where UC Bearcats, Xavier Musketeers land in AP Top 25 men's basketball preseason poll?
With the tip-off of the 2024-25 college basketball season just three weeks away, the Associated Press released its preseason top 25 poll Monday afternoon.
Preseason, AP ranks the Cincinnati Bearcats No. 20, Among teams in the region, Indiana is No. 17 and Kentucky No. 23.The Xavier Musketeers received 73 votes which would put them at No. 28. Ohio State, UC's opponent in the CareSource Charity Classic Friday night received 29 votes.
UC was 22-15 a year ago and an NIT quarterfinalist for a second straight season. They last were in the NCAA tournament in the spring of 2019 under Mick Cronin. Wes Miller returns six of his top eight scorers from last season and nine from that roster, in addition to highly-touted transfers Dillon Mitchell (Texas), Arrinten Page (USC) and Connor Hickman (Bradley).
The Bearcats were last ranked in the AP preseason poll in 2017-18 at No. 12. Their last overall ranking was the final 2018-29 poll which placed them at No. 22.
Xavier, which finished 16-18 last season and lost in the first round of the NIT, was not in the top 25. The Musketeers have not been ranked in the preseason since grabbing the No. 19 spot before the 2019-2020 campaign. Xavier is just two years removed from its last trip to the NCAA Tournament, a Sweet 16 run upon Sean Miller's return.
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Where did UC, Xavier land in preseason KenPom rankings?
The popular college basketball website, KenPom, an efficiency-based rankings system for each team in the country, released its preseason rankings late Sunday night.
UC was tabbed as only the seventh-best team in the Big 12, but was No. 17 in the nation, speaking to the toughness of a conference with eight March Madness selections in 2024. UC starts the season ranked No. 25 in offensive efficiency and No. 13 in defensive efficiency. KenPom projects UC to finish 21-10 overall and 12-8 in Big 12 play.
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Xavier grabbed the No. 30 spot in KenPom, which is sixth in the Big East. The Musketeers start the year ranked No. 26 in offensive efficiency and No. 26 in defensive efficiency. KenPom projects Xavier to finish 20-10 overall and 11-9 in Big East play.
The preseason KenPom Rankings are HERE 🔥 pic.twitter.com/KFe0f1Mz8z
— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) October 14, 2024
The Bearcats open the season Nov. 4 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 7 p.m.
Xavier will visit UD Arena Sunday to face the Flyers in a charity exhibition game. The Musketeers start the year Nov. 4 at Cintas Center against Texas Southern.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Associated Press Top 25 preseason poll Cincinnati, Xavier
