Gonzaga lands at No. 13 in preseason coaches poll

In a preseason full of adulation, the Gonzaga Bulldogs got their first very public notion of preseason praise, landing at No. 13 in the USA Today's Men's Basketball Coaches Poll. Kentukcy was the top vote getter by a long shot, registering 24 of 32 first place votes.

It is the highest preseason ranking for the Bulldogs since the 2010-11 season when Gonzaga started off ranked in the preseason polls at No. 12.

Multiple Gonzaga opponents landed in the initial rankings as well. Gonzaga's first high-profile game will come on Nov. 17 at home against the Southern Methodist Mustangs, who start the season ranked No. 22. If the preseason rankings actually hold slightly true, Gonzaga's road game against Arizona will be the biggest non-tournament game of the season. The Wildcats opened the season ranked No. 2.

As of now, those are the only games against ranked opponents Gonzaga has on the schedule. Plenty of opponents are right on the cusp, however. Memphis, UCLA and Minnesota all received votes. Gonzaga will face all three if Minnesota and the Bulldogs both advance to the finals of the NIT Tournament in November.

And the team rounding out all of the votes? Saint Mary's -- all the way down at the bottom, receiving one vote. Not saying it came from him, but it is important to note that Randy Bennett is one of the voters this season.