Indiana opens at No. 1 in USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

Eddie Timanus, USA TODAY Sports | USATODAY

By definition, preseason polls are speculative ventures. But they are a measure of expectations, and Indiana is expected to be ready to contend for championships again.

The Hoosiers hold the No.1 position in the preseason USA TODAY Sports men's basketball coaches poll, claiming 21 of 31 first-place votes for its first top ranking since the end of the 1992-93 regular season. IU coach Tom Crean seems ready for the challenge that comes with being No.1.

"I think it'd be crazy to try to shy away from it," he told USA TODAY Sports. "If we were, our kids would look at us and roll their eyes. We don't talk about it much. We talk about living up to the standards that we need to live up to on a daily basis to have it that way at the end of the year.

"I think it says a lot about our fan base and how they've stuck with us."

Louisville holds the No. 2 spot, its highest preseason ranking since USA TODAY began administering the coaches poll in 1991. Defending NCAA champion Kentucky will start the campaign at No. 3. The Cardinals and Wildcats each picked up five No. 1 votes.

Indiana heads a group of five Big Ten teams in the top 25, the most for any conference. That includes three in the top five with Ohio State checking in at No. 4 and Michigan No. 5. Michigan State is 14th and Wisconsin is No. 21.

North Carolina State begins at No.6, its highest position in any coaches poll since its association with USA TODAY Sports. The Wolfpack were also chosen as the preseason favorite in the Atlantic Coast Conference as chosen by league coaches, an honor usuallly bestowed on Duke or North Carolina in recent years. The Blue Devils appear at No. 8 with the Tar Heels 12th. Also representing the ACC is Florida State, tied for 24th with Texas.

No. 7 Kansas heads a group of three ranked teams from the Big 12, with Baylor at No. 18 in addition to Texas. The Pac-12, after being shut out of the top 25 at the end of last season, has two heading into the season with Arizona starting out 11th and UCLA No. 13.

Contributing: Mike Lopresti