The preseason USA TODAY/ESPN Top 25 Coaches Poll was announced Thursday with the North Carolina Tar Heels being slotted as the overwhelming No. 1 team in the country after receiving 30 of 31 first-place votes. North Carolina, which returns all five starters from 2010, is one spot ahead of the Kentucky Wildcats, which were not voted lower than No. 6 in any ballot submitted.

Four Southeastern Conference teams made the poll including Kentucky (No. 2), Vanderbilt (No. 7), the Florida Gators (No. 10) and Alabama (No. 17).

The 2010-11 Gators were ranked No. 11 heading into last season, which saw them win the SEC and end the year with a record of 29-8 (13-3 SEC) that included an appearance in the Elite Eight round of the 2011 NCAA Tournament.

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USA TODAY/ESPN COACHES POLL

Preseason 1-5: North Carolina (30), Kentucky (1), Ohio State, Connecticut, Syracuse

6-10: Duke, Vanderbilt, Louisville, Memphis, Florida

11-15: Pittsburgh, Baylor, Kansas, Wisconsin, Xavier

16-20: Arizona, Alabama, Michigan, Texas A&M, UCLA

21-25: Marquette, Cincinnati, Gonzaga, California, Missouri