Florida Gators basketball will open the 2014-15 campaign ranked No. 7 in both the Associated Press Top 25 and USA Today Coaches’ Polls, the former of which saw its preseason edition released on Friday.

Losing four senior starters to graduation, Florida will kick off its season in two weeks on Friday, Nov. 14 at 6 p.m. against William & Mary. First, the Gators will host Barry University in an exhibition contest on Thursday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m.

Kentucky is ranked as the consensus No. 1 team in the nation, garnering 76-of-97 combined first-place votes (.784). Arizona is the consensus preseason No. 2 with Duke, Kansas and Wisconsin – in different orders – rounding out the top five of both polls.

Florida will face Kentucky (No. 1/1) twice during league play and take on both Kansas (No. 5/5) and UConn (No. 17/15) in non-conference action.

UF could also face Wisconsin (No. 2/4), North Carolina (No. 6/6) and/or Oklahoma (No. 19/19) as part of the 2014 Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in the Bahamas.



AP Top 25

Preseason 1-5: Kentucky (52), Arizona (5), Wisconsin (8), Duke, Kansas

6-10: North Carolina, Florida, Louisville, Virginia, Texas

11-15: Wichita State, Villanova, Gonzaga, Iowa State, VCU

16-20: San Diego State, UConn, Michigan State, Oklahoma, Ohio State

21-25: Nebraska, SMU, Syracuse, Michigan, Utah