It's hard to believe that the season is nearly here but whenever the preseason rankings are released, it all becomes a little more real.  Next week the Zags will take on the University of Alberta in what should be a cakewalk of a game.  Ten days later they will have their last tune-up game before their most difficult test of the entire season, the Michigan State Spartans.  Everyone expected Michigan State to be ranked very high coming into the year and that is exactly what happened.  Here's the rest of today's news...

NCAA College Basketball Polls, College Basketball Rankings, NCAA Basketball Polls - ESPN
We've learned over the past few years in both college football and basketball that preseason polls are virtually worthless but today marks the day of the release of the AP and Coaches Poll. The Coaches has already been released and Gonzaga checks in at #34 with 24 points. Kansas tops the poll with 27 of 31 first-place votes. Michigan State, Texas, North Carolina, and Kentucky round out the top five.

Naismith Trophy Preseason Watch List announced - CBSSports.com
The Naismith Player of the Year award is the most prestigious award handed out at the end of every season. Fifty players are named in the preseason as 'players to watch' and this year, Matt Bouldin has made the list. It is a pretty wide open race at this point but early favorites have to be Notre Dame's Luke Harangody, Duke's Kyle Singler, Oklahoma's Willie Warren, but make sure to watch out for those freshmen (John Wall & Avery Bradley).

Scout.com: No Rush For Kyle Wiltjer
If the list of schools dropping by to see him in open gyms so far this fall is any indicator, he’ll have no trouble finding that fit. UCLA, Kansas, Gonzaga, Arizona, Arizona State, Washington, Washington State, Stanford, Wake Forest, Kentucky and Texas have all made stops to see him.

CU hoops loses Shannon Sharpe for season - The Denver Post
Gonzaga's first opponent in the Maui Invitational will be shorthanded for the duration of the season as they lost reserve guard Shannon Sharpe for the year. Sharpe, a true freshman who was supposed to make a big impact, suffered a knee injury and will be forced to redshirt. Tough news for Jeff Bzdelik who needs a solid year in Boulder.

Battle In Seattle Game Time Changed To 4 p.m. - GONZAGA OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE
Initially reported as a 1 PM pacific tip, Gonzaga will take on Davidson at 4 PM on December 12th.