The Associated Press preseason Top 25 college basketball poll was released on Monday with the University of Rhode Island Rams taking the 23rd ranking in the country. URI was ranked 24 in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
It marks the first time that Rhode Island is ranked on either the USA Today Coaches or Associated Press preseason top 25 poll since the 1998-99 season.
The Duke Blue Devils are the runaway No. 1 team in the poll, receiving 58 of the 65 first-place votes to out-distance Kentucky, which had two No. 1 votes.
Kansas is third, followed by defending national champion Villanova, which had four first-place votes. Oregon, which had the other No. 1 vote is fifth.
The Rhody Rams kick off their season on November 11th hosting Dartmouth.
Rhody returns four of five starters from a season ago and welcomes back guard E.C. Matthews, who missed the 2015-16 season due to injury.
Season tickets, mini-plan packages and individual game tickets are on sale now. For more ticket information, visit GoRhody.com/tickets or call the box office at (401) 874-RAMS.
