Kansas slotted No. 5 in preseason Associated Press poll

The Kansas Jayhawks enter the 2013-14 season ranked at No. 5 in the preseason Associated Press Poll released Thursday. Kansas was already picked No. 6 in the preseason ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ Poll released on October 17th.

This marks the 85th straight week Kansas has been ranked. This ranks second to Duke’s 117 straight weeks. The ranking is the seventh time in the Bill Self era that the Jayhawks enter the season slotted seventh or higher, including three of the last four years: No. 1 in 2009-10 , No. 7 in 2010-11 and No. 7 in 2012-13.  The No. 5 AP ranking marks the 16^th time since the 1992-93 season that Kansas will enter the season seventh or higher.

Kansas is one of three Big 12 teams ranked. Oklahoma State, the team picked by coaches to split the preseason Big 12 poll, is ranked eighth while Baylor comes in at No. 25.

Last season, Kansas was ranked seventh in this poll and finished third with a 31-6 record after losing to Michigan in the NCAA tournament.

Kansas’ biggest test comes on November 12th when the Jayhawks face off against No. 4 Duke in the Champions Classic. Also playing in the Champions Classic are No. 1 Kentucky and No. 2 Michigan State. This is the earliest matchup between preseason No. 1 and No. 2 since Indiana vs. UCLA in St. Louis on November 29, 1975.

There are five opponents on Kansas’ schedule ranked and three are receiving votes. These teams include:

• Duke (No. 4)
• Oklahoma State (No. 8)
• Florida (No. 10)
• New Mexico (No. 23)
• Baylor (No. 25)
• Colorado (receiving votes)
• Georgetown (receiving votes)
• Villanova (receiving votes)

Here are the rankings: