Syracuse (WSYR/SU ATHLETICS) – The Syracuse University men’s basketball team is ranked No. 9 in the Associated Press’ preseason college basketball poll released on Friday afternoon. Syracuse was picked to finish second in The BIG EAST Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll announced on Wednesday in New York City.
The Orange is defending conference champions, finishing the 2011-2012 campaign at 34-3. Senior guard
Brandon Triche and junior forward
C.J. Fair earned BIG EAST Preseason honors as Triche was selected to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team and Fair was selected as a Preseason BIG EAST Honorable Mention.
SU won the conference’s regular season title last year, going 17-1 in Big East play.
In the postseason, SU advanced to the East Regional final, in which they lost to Ohio State.
Indiana is ranked No. 1 according to the poll, while Louisville is ranked No. 2. The Cardinals were also tabbed by the Big East’s coaches as the top team in the conference.
Rounding out the top five were Kentucky, Ohio State, and Michigan.
Along with Louisville and Syracuse, the Big East teams ranked in the top 25 were Notre Dame (No. 22) and Cincinnati (No. 24).
AP Poll Top 25 Rankings1. Indiana
2. Louisville
3. Kentucky
4. Ohio St.
5. Michigan
6. NC State
7. Kansas
8. Duke
9. Syracuse
10. Florida
11. North Carolina
12. Arizona
13. UCLA
14. Michigan St.
15. Missouri
16. Creighton
17. Memphis
18. UNLV
19. Baylor
20. San Diego St.
21. Gonzaga
22. Notre Dame
23. Wisconsin
24. Cincinnati
25. Florida St.
Full Big East Poll Rankings1. Louisville
2. Syracuse
3. Notre Dame
4. Cincinnati
5. Georgetown
6. Pittsburgh
7. Marquette
8. USF
9. Connecticut
10. St. John's
11. Rutgers
12. Villanova
13. DePaul
14. Seton Hall
15. Providence
