The first preseason poll is out for basketball and UNC is right where most everyone expected them to be at #2 behind defending national champion Florida in the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll. Kansas is third, Ohio State is fourth, and Pittsburgh and NCAA runner-up UCLA tied for fifth. Other ACC schools in the rankings are Duke at #11, Boston College at #15, and Georgia Tech at #21. Maryland received 12 votes and Florida State received nine.
LSU and Wisconsin being in the top ten raises some flags with me which really means I think they need to prove they belong there. Georgetown also falls into that category somewhat but that is what makes preseason polls fun.
As for UNC's schedule versus teams ranked in this poll, UNC plays Kentucky, at Arizona, Duke(twice), Georgia Tech(twice), and at Boston College. UNC could also meet Tennessee in the NIT Season Tip-off should both schools make it to New York.
1. Florida
2. UNC
3. Kansas
4. Ohio State
5t. Pittsburgh
5t. UCLA
7. LSU
8. Georgetown
9. Wisconsin
10. Arizona
11. Duke
12. Alabama
13. Texas A&M
14. Mempis
15. Boston College
16. Washington
17. Marquette
18. Connecticut
19. Texas
20. Syracuse
21. Georgia Tech
22. Kentucky
23. Creighton
24. Tennessee
25. Nevada