Don't look now, but the college basketball season is right around the corner. The first AP Poll of the year has been released, with familiar names sprinkled throughout the top 25. Beginning the year at No. 1 will be the Duke Blue Devils, the defending national champions. The Blue Devils are loaded with talent and will try to become the first repeat champions since Florida did it four years ago.
The Big Ten is well represented with Michigan State at No. 2, while the Buckeyes of Ohio State sit at No. 4. Thad Matta has his best recruiting class yet in Columbus and should be right in the thick of it come March Madness. Kansas State, sandwiched in between the two Big Ten powers, starts at No. 3, the highest ranking the Wildcats have seen to start a season since 1962.
The Big Ten is also represented in the top 15 by llinois and Purdue, Nos. 13 and 14 respectively, and you can surely bet Wisconsin will find its way into the top 25 before season's end.
As for Butler, the surprise national runner-up last season, it comes in at No. 17.
The full poll is below: