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CBS Sports preseason Top 25 (and one)

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Kentucky basketball is ranked #1 in another preseason poll. CBSSports.com released their Top25 this morning.

Top 5:
1. Kentucky
2. Duke
3. Arizona
4. Wisconsin
5. Kansas

Here is an excerpt.

John Calipari has so many talented players this season that he A) held a pro day on Kentucky’s campus earlier this month; B) plans to rotate two different five-man lineups; and C) could conceivably set a record for first-round picks in June’s NBA Draft.

Thus, his Wildcats are No. 1 in the CBSSports.com preseason Top 25 (and one).

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In a different year, Duke, Arizona, Wisconsin and Kansas would get serious consideration; they’re all good enough to cut nets in April. But the roster Calipari has assembled is more talented and deeper than anybody else’s roster, and it has enough returning rotation players — thanks to Andrew Harrison, Aaron Harrison, Alex Poythress, Willie Cauley-Stein and Dakari Johnson putting off the NBA Draft — to reasonably be labeled experienced.

Bottom line, UK will be scary good.

A second national title should be John Calipari’s goal.

And, with that, let’s now look at the entire Top 25 (and one) …

1. Kentucky

Coach: John Calipari

Last season’s record: 29-11

Comment: The Wildcats return five players who averaged at least 14 minutes per game on last season’s team that played for a national title. Combine them with another stellar recruiting class highlighted by the reigning Gatorade Player of the Year (Karl Towns), and Kentucky has a roster experienced and talented enough to deserve this ranking.

Projected starting lineup this season:

G: Andrew Harrison
G: Aaron Harrison
F: Alex Poythress
F: Karl Towns
C: Willie Cauley-Stein

Read Kentucky is No. 1 in CBSSports.com preseason Top 25 (and one)

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