(WNDU) - Purdue is No. 1 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 men’s basketball poll for the first time.

The Boilermakers earned 35 of 61 first-place votes to top Monday’s poll to begin the 2025-26 season , putting them ahead of the two teams that played in last year’s NCAA title game. Runner-up Houston is at No. 2 and reigning champion Florida is at No. 3.

Purdue reached last year’s Sweet 16 before falling to Houston on a last-second basket , but the Boilermakers return a first-team AP All-American in point guard Braden Smith, scoring leader Trey Kaufman-Renn (20.1) and veteran guard Fletcher Loyer.

As for other regional teams in the poll, Michigan is also ranked in the top 10 at No. 7 while Michigan State will start the season ranked No. 22. Meanwhile, Indiana received one vo

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