Purdue Tabbed No. 1 in AP Preseason Poll
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – For the first time in school history, the Purdue men’s basketball team was voted No. 1 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll, the organization announced Monday afternoon.
The Boilermakers picked up 35-of-61 first-place votes and 1,485 points to rank first in the preseason poll. Houston is ranked second with 16 first-place votes and 1,459 points. Florida (8 FPV), UConn (2 FPV), St. John’s, Duke, Michigan, BYU, Kentucky and Texas Tech round out the top 10.
Purdue opponents include Michigan (7), Kentucky (9; EXH), Texas Tech (10; possible), UCLA (12), Alabama (15), Iowa State (16), Illinois (17), Auburn (20), Michigan State (22) and Wisconsin (24). Other teams receiving votes include Oregon (27th), Ohio State (30th), Washington (35th), Iowa (37th) and Indiana (43rd).
With the No. 1 ranking, Purdue has now been ranked No. 1 in 14 weeks since the start of the 2021-22 season in 81 total weekly polls, the most in the country. Prior to the 2021-22 season, Purdue had never been ranked No. 1 in the AP poll.
Purdue becomes the seventh program in AP Top 25 poll history (since 1949) to be ranked No. 1 during four years of a five-year span, joining UCLA, Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, North Carolina and Gonzaga on the list.
In addition since the start of the 2021-22 season, Purdue has been ranked in the top five in 50 of the 81 weekly polls administered. Pu
Purdue will face No. 9 Kentucky in Rupp Arena in an exhibition game on Oct. 24, then host UIndy in an exhibition game in Mackey Arena on Oct. 29. The season opener comes Nov. 4, against Evansville in Mackey Arena.
Single-game tickets went on sale last week and only the Washington game on Jan. 7, remain available for purchase.