College Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll

On the doorstep of November, the 2008-09 preseason men's coaches' poll was released this morning...observe:

1. North Carolina
2. UConn
3. Louisville
4. UCLA
5. Duke
6. Pittsburgh
7. Michigan State
8. Texas
9. Notre Dame
10. Purdue
11. Gonzaga
12. Memphis
13. Tennessee
14. Oklahoma
15. Arizona State
16. Miami
17. Marquette
18. Georgetown
19. Florida
20. Davidson
21. USC
22. Wisconsin
23. Kansas
24. Wake Forest
25. Villanova

Some thoughts...

- The Vols are the clear choice for the best team in the SEC again this year, though the Gators also crack the poll. Vanderbilt and Kentucky were each near the bottom of the "also receiving votes" list.

- North Carolina is the clear choice for number one, unanimous in this poll.

- The poll is littered with future and potential Tennessee opponents, with Gonzaga and Memphis just above the Vols, while Marquette and Kansas hover below. Meanwhile, the Old Spice Classic field includes Michigan State, Gonzaga again, and Georgetown.

- I'm sure we'll talk more about this in the next 17 days...but consider the accomplishment of Bruce Pearl, who, in his fourth year on the job, lost Chris Lofton, JaJuan Smith, Jordan Howell, Duke Crews and Ramar Smith...and has the Vols ranked 13th in the preseason poll. Well done, sir. Well done.