AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas men’s basketball team landed at No. 19 in the preseason Associated Press poll released Monday.
With the first game set for Nov. 4 in Las Vegas against Ohio State, the Longhorns are slotted a spot ahead of former Big 12 Conference foe Cincinnati and one behind Marquette coached by former Longhorns head man Shaka Smart.
In the AP poll, Texas checks in as the No. 6 team from the Southeastern Conference with nine teams appearing overall. That differs from the SEC media poll, also released Monday, ahead of the basketball media days in Birmingham, Alabama. Media members covering the SEC selected Texas as the No. 7 team, putting Florida ahead of them. Florida is No. 21 in the AP poll.
Kansas is the top team in the AP poll, edging Alabama. Two-time defending champion Connecticut is No. 3, followed by Houston, Iowa State, Gonzaga, Duke, Baylor, North Carolina and Arizona to round out the top 10.
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Three SEC teams sit at Nos. 11-13 — Auburn, Tennessee and Texas A&M — with Arkansas at No. 16. Kentucky and Mississippi round out the SEC teams in the poll at Nos. 23 and 24.
SEC media members picked Alabama to win the conference followed by Auburn, Tennessee, Arkansas and Texas A&M. Alabama’s Mark Sears was named the SEC preseason player of the year.
Texas’ Tramon Mark, who transferred from Arkansas in the offseason, was the only Longhorn named to the preseason All-SEC team, earning a third-team nod.