The Florida men’s basketball team is ranked 10th nationally
in the USA Today preseason coaches poll, released on Wednesday. The Gators are
coming off a 26-11 record and an Elite Eight appearance in the 2011-12 season,
and the team has three starters returning to this year’s squad.
Florida has been ranked in the preseason coaches poll in
each of the past 13 seasons, and this is the team’s sixth time in the poll’s
preseason top 10. Florida also received a No. 10 preseason ranking from the
coaches last season and ultimately finished the season ranked No. 9.
The Gators are slated to face five other teams in the
preseason top 25 this year with dates against Kentucky, Arizona, Missouri,
Wisconsin and Florida State. In addition, Florida will meet five other teams
who received votes, including Kansas State, Tennessee, Marquette, Middle
Tennessee and Georgia.
The Gators’ host Nebraska-Kearney in an exhibition game on
Nov. 1 (Tickets)
before tipping off the regular season on Nov. 9 against Georgetown aboard the
USS Bataan in the Navy-Marine Corps Classic presented by Florida Blue.
