Florida Tops Preseason AP Top 25 College Basketball Poll

Florida has been named the No. 1 team in the preseason AP Top 25 men's basketball poll, which was released on Monday. The Gators secured 47 out of 59 first-place votes, marking their first time at the top of the preseason rankings since 2006.

The Gators are returning four starters from last season's team, which achieved a 27-win record and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. This marks a significant moment for the program, reminiscent of their previous national title run when they also opened the season ranked No. 1.

Duke follows closely in the No. 2 spot, returning key players from last year's squad and adding a strong recruiting class. Illinois is ranked No. 3 after reaching the Final Four last season. Florida, Duke, and Illinois were the only teams to receive first-place votes in the poll.