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The Gonzaga Bulldogs opened the season ranked No. 8 in the preseason AP poll. Michigan State is the overwhelming No. 1 team, garnering 60 first place votes.
The Zags also started out the season ranked No. 8 in KenPom’s preseason rankings, so for once, the AP voters appear to have done a good job. The voters are relatively spread on where the Zags should land, with someone going bonkers and ranking the Zags as high as No. 3, and few others a bit more soured, putting Gonzaga as low as No. 16.
Elsewhere around the poll, Saint Mary’s opened the season ranked No. 20, the best thing possible for the WCC. Other Gonzaga opponents include North Carolina (No. 9) and Arizona (No. 21). In a bit of deliciousness, the Washington Huskies, although probably very good, opened the season just outside the top 25.
Here are the full preseason rankings from the AP poll:
AP Poll - Week 1
| rank | team | points |
|---|---|---|
| rank | team | points |
| 1 | Michigan State (60) | 1,619 |
| 2 | Kentucky (2) | 1,497 |
| 3 | Kansas (3) | 1,457 |
| 4 | Duke | 1,399 |
| 5 | Louisville | 1,386 |
| 6 | Florida | 1,313 |
| 7 | Maryland | 1,134 |
| 8 | Gonzaga | 1,096 |
| 9 | North Carolina | 1,060 |
| 10 | Villanova | 1,048 |
| 11 | Virginia | 1,007 |
| 12 | Seton Hall | 869 |
| 13 | Texas Tech | 837 |
| 14 | Memphis | 773 |
| 15 | Oregon | 742 |
| 16 | Baylor | 523 |
| 17 | Utah State | 491 |
| 18 | Ohio State | 407 |
| 19 | Xavier | 356 |
| 20 | Saint Mary's | 330 |
| 21 | Arizona | 265 |
| 22 | LSU | 234 |
| 23 | Purdue | 230 |
| 24 | Auburn | 210 |
| 25 | VCU | 193 |