Florida is No. 1 in preseason AP Top 25 men’s poll as Duke, Illini also receive first-place votes

Florida claims the No. 1 spot in the AP preseason Top 25 men's basketball poll, returning to the position it held two seasons ago. While the Gators were the dominant choice, Duke and Illini also received first-place votes. Additionally, Alabama's ranking is noted as the Crimson Tide prepares for a Thursday night exhibition game against Auburn in Birmingham. These developments set the stage for the upcoming men's college basketball season across several top-tier programs.