:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/57425193/usa_today_9954912.0.jpg)
The Arizona Wildcats will open the 2017-18 college basketball season as the No. 3 team in the country, per the AP Poll that was released Wednesday.
The Duke Blue Devils are No. 1 and the Michigan State Spartans are No. 2.
Arizona received the third-most first-place votes with 18.
Here is entire poll:
Preseason AP Top 25
| rank | team | points |
|---|---|---|
| rank | team | points |
| 1 | Duke (33) | 1,572 |
| 2 | Michigan State (13) | 1,520 |
| 3 | Arizona (18) | 1,506 |
| 4 | Kansas (1) | 1,439 |
| 5 | Kentucky | 1,340 |
| 6 | Villanova | 1,284 |
| 7 | Wichita State | 1,270 |
| 8 | Florida | 1,100 |
| 9 | North Carolina | 1,047 |
| 10 | USC | 995 |
| 11 | West Virginia | 840 |
| 12 | Cincinnati | 837 |
| 13 | Miami (FL) | 836 |
| 14 | Notre Dame | 814 |
| 15 | Minnesota | 641 |
| 16 | Louisville | 570 |
| 17 | Xavier | 544 |
| 18 | Gonzaga | 500 |
| 19 | Northwestern | 473 |
| 20 | Purdue | 362 |
| 21 | UCLA | 340 |
| 22 | Saint Mary's | 333 |
| 23 | Seton Hall | 274 |
| 24 | Baylor | 163 |
| 25 | Texas A&M | 130 |
Three teams in the Top 25 are on Arizona’s schedule this season — No. 10 USC, No. 21 UCLA, and No. 25 Texas A&M.
And Alabama, which Arizona hosts on Dec. 9, is the No. 26 team, receiving 86 votes. Plus, Arizona will likely face either No. 6 Villanova or No. 20 Purdue (but not both) in Battle 4 Atlantis in November.
Arizona arguably has the most talented roster in the country this season, but it will be without star guard Rawle Alkins (broken foot) until December.
The Wildcats are No. 5 in the Coaches Poll to start the season.
Follow Ryan Kelapire on Twitter at @RKelapire