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A little over a week ago the USA Today/ESPN Coaches' Poll ranked the Syracuse Orange men's basketball team No. 9 in the country. On Friday, the preseason AP Poll was released and agreed with the assessment also ranking the Orange ninth.
This marks the third time in as many seasons SU will start the year as a top 10 program. Last season, the Orange were ranked 5th in the preseason while in 2010-11 they entered as No. 10.
The ranking is a vote of confidence from voters that SU will be able to replace four key players, including three starters and the Big East Sixth Man of the Year.
Overall, four teams from the Big East Conference cracked the top 25. The Louisville Cardinals had the highest ranking at No. 2, a slot behind the top-ranked Indiana Hoosiers. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish were ranked No. 22 while the Cincinnati Bearcats were ranked 24th.
Here's the complete top 25 poll:
| Team (First-place votes) | 2011-12 Record | Pts |
| 1. Indiana (43) | 27-9 | 1,592 |
| 2. Louisville (20) | 30-10 | 1,568 |
| 3. Kentucky (2) | 38-2 | 1,453 |
| 4. Ohio St. | 31-8 | 1,292 |
| 5. Michigan | 24-10 | 1,290 |
| 6. NC State | 24-13 | 1,270 |
| 7. Kansas | 32-7 | 1,210 |
| 8. Duke | 27-7 | 1,094 |
| 9. Syracuse | 34-3 | 1,062 |
| 10. Florida | 26-11 | 936 |
| 11. North Carolina | 32-6 | 904 |
| 12. Arizona | 23-12 | 902 |
| 13. UCLA | 19-14 | 840 |
| 14. Michigan St. | 29-8 | 789 |
| 15. Missouri | 30-5 | 664 |
| 16. Creighton | 29-6 | 622 |
| 17. Memphis | 26-9 | 539 |
| 18. UNLV | 26-9 | 488 |
| 19. Baylor | 30-8 | 486 |
| 20. San Diego St. | 26-8 | 463 |
| 21. Gonzaga | 26-7 | 384 |
| 22. Notre Dame | 22-12 | 297 |
| 23. Wisconsin | 26-10 | 285 |
| 24. Cincinnati | 26-11 | 120 |
| 25. Florida St. | 25-10 | 101 |