College basketball rankings: Ohio State at No. 4 in USA Today preseason poll

After a Final Four appearance last season, the Ohio State Buckeyes have opened this year ranked fourth in the USA Today men's basketball poll. The Buckeyes ended last season ranked third in the country.

Indiana is ranked first in the poll followed by Louisville and the defending national champions Kentucky Wildcats.

The Big Ten has five teams ranked in the top 25 with Michigan fifth, Michigan State 14th and Wisconsin 21st.

Ohio State will be led this year by junior guard Aaron Craft after they lost Jared Sullinger to the NBA and William Buford to graduation.

The Buckeyes will also rely on junior Deshaun Thomas to carry the front-court void left by the departure of Sullinger. Thomas averaged 15.9 points and 5.4 rebounds while shooting 52 percent from the field last year.

Ohio State will open the season against Marquette on Nov. 9.

The complete rankings:

1 Indiana
2 Louisville
3 Kentucky
4 Ohio State
5 Michigan
6 North Carolina State
7 Kansas
8 Duke
9 Syracuse
10 Florida
11 Arizona
12 North Carolina
13 UCLA
14 Michigan State
15 Creighton
16 Memphis
17 Missouri
18 Baylor
19 UNLV
20 San Diego State
21 Wisconsin
22 Gonzaga
23 Notre Dame
24 (tie) Florida State
24 (tie) Texas