Tag: AP Preseason Poll

Texas A&M ranked in the Top 15 in AP’s preseason men’s basketball poll

With college basketball season less than a month away, Texas A&M is ranked in the Top 15 in AP’s preseason Top 25 poll.

Texas A&M Basketball, under the tremendous leadership of fifth-year head coach Buzz Williams, is just seven months removed from their 25-10 record (15-3 SEC), second-consecutive SEC title game appearance, and an NCAA Tournament berth, falling to the then red hot Penn State Nittany Lions in the first round.

Returning four starters and several critical newcomers from the highly lucrative transfer portal has not only provided plenty of preseason hype for a program on the rise, but some believe that the Aggies might be the top team in the SEC entering the pivotal 2023-2024 season.

On Monday, Williams and his talented squad first found themselves ranked 19th in the USA TODAY Sports coaches poll and, less than an hour later, earned a Top 15 ranking at yes, No. 15 in the first AP preseason Top 25 poll, ranked above the likes of Kentucky (16th), Texas (18th), and North Carolina (19th).

Headlining the returning production, Texas A&M’s elite backcourt led by junior Wade Taylor IV and reliable senior Tyrece “Boots” Radford is by far the best in the SEC and rivals most guard duos in the country when it’s all said and done. Coming off the bench, former five-star Manny Obaseki and freshman Bryce Lindsay hope to provide a dose of offensive firepower.

Senior forwards  Henry Coleman III and Julius Marble will again handle the paint in the frontcourt. At the same time, key reserves, including Andersson Garcia and Solomon Washington, are as reliable as ever when called upon. Through the transfer portal, guard Jace Carer, forward Eli Lawrence, and center Wildens Leveque round out the roster, providing a wealth of experience at multiple spots after the departure of current Dallas Maverick guard Dexter Dennis.

Texas A&M will open the season vs. Texas A&M-Commerce on Monday, Nov. 6., which will air on SEC Network+

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Texas A&M ranks No. 23 in the 2023 preseason AP Top 25 Poll

As Texas A&M looks to rebound from their 5-7 campaign a season ago, the Maroon and White ranked 23rd in the 2023 preseason AP Top 25 Poll.

The start of the 2023 college football season is just around the corner. Fall camp has kicked off in earnest in Aggieland, the pads have been put on, and we’re just under two weekends away from Week 1 of the new season. For all you early birds out there, Week 0 is even closer with a handful of teams active.

Before we get a single kickoff on the field, the 2023 preseason AP Top 25 Poll was released on Monday as a first proxy for which teams are expected to be the best of the best on the gridiron. It’s business as usual at the top with the two-time defending national champion Georgia Bulldogs ranking first overall. Michigan, Ohio State, Alabama, and LSU round out the top five.

As for Texas A&M, who is motivated to rebound from their 5-7 (2-6 SEC) campaign from a season ago, they clocked in at No. 23 overall in this year’s preseason rankings.

Here is a look at the full preseason AP Top 25 Poll:

Rank Team
1. Georgia
2. Michigan
3. Ohio State
4. Alabama
5. LSU
6. USC
7. Penn State
8. Florida State
9. Clemson
10. Washington
11. Texas
12. Tennessee
13. Notre Dame
14. Utah
15. Oregon
16. Kansas State
17. TCU
18. Oregon State
19. Wisconsin
20. Oklahoma
21. North Carolina
22. Ole Miss
23. Texas A&M
24. Tulane
25. Iowa

Others Receiving Votes:

Texas Tech 101; South Carolina 73; UCLA 66; UTSA 64; Arkansas 22; Boise St. 17; Pittsburgh 16; Kentucky 14; Louisville 10; Troy 10; Kansas 10; Auburn 7; Minnesota 6; Toledo 4; Duke 4; Mississippi St. 4; Florida 4; Illinois 3; Baylor 3; Coastal Carolina 3; South Alabama 1; NC State 1; James Madison 1; Liberty 1.

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247Sports projects Texas A&M’s ranking in the AP Preseason Top 25

With the 2023 college football season nearly a month away, 247Sports projected how the AP Preseason Top 25 rankings would shake-out. Did Texas A&M land on the list?

Before the 2023 college football season kicks off in close to a month, the preseason rankings will be unveiled so as to gauge the level of confidence in your program.

247Sports projected how the preseason AP Top 25 rankings would play out once they are unveiled in two weeks. Keep in mind, this is not the preseason top 25, only a projection of the Aug. 14 reveal based on voting predictions.

Of course, consensus title contenders like Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, and Alabama clocked in high on the list. But what about Texas A&M, which has been notably tough to place in the preseason rankings throughout the offseason? After all, the Aggies have no shortage of critics that question the trajectory of this team following their 5-7 campaign in 2022. And yet, one cannot ignore a talent-laden roster that is filled with four and five-star recruits.

With those two ideals going head-to-head, 247Sports’ Brad Crawford projected Texas A&M at No. 16 overall in the AP Top 25 preseason poll:

Perhaps the toughest team to project in this AP lookahead, Texas A&M has a top-10 roster in college football, but that didn’t show up in 2022 on the field. The Aggies went 5-7. Conner Weigman now studies under new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, who could take the SEC by storm if he’s given actual reign over this unit free from Jimbo Fisher’s fingers. The Aggies should be strong up front and if they can start the season on a positive note, perhaps they challenge for a crown in the final year of the SEC West.

The Aggies’ 16th-placed ranking indicates that while the talent on the roster speaks for itself, it’s up to this team to stake their claim in the SEC and illustrate why they should be considered a force to be reckoned with this season. Thankfully, the pieces are there to execute on that goal.

Bobby Petrino, whose offenses have averaged at least 400 yards in 16-of-20 seasons and 30 points per game in 15 seasons, should help challenge sophomore quarterback Conner Weigman and help him reach his full potential in year two. While the offense hindered this team a year ago, a leap from Weigman and his surrounding weapons should unlock one of the country’s best offensive units this season.

The Aggies have no shortage of talent in the trenches and on the defensive line, with the latter boasting an ideal mix of veterans and rising stars. So long as they become more coherent in defending the run while being more efficient in pressuring the quarterback, the tools are there for this defense to be among the most feared in the conference.

Texas A&M can’t deny that the critics are warranted in their hesitations, but as long as they execute on the field, it will only be a matter of time before they win back the confidence of those doubting them.

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Texas A&M football’s preseason AP Poll rankings since 2000

Texas A&M has seen some glorious highs and forgettable lows since 2000, and we are taking you down memory lane of the Aggies’ AP rankings over the last 22 seasons.

The beauty of sports is that you live and you learn through the highs and lows of a season, and that carries over from the players to the fanbase. Texas A&M football is no different, having endured some forgettable seasons while also reaching unprecedented heights over the last 22 years.

Since 2000, Texas A&M has been ranked in the Associated Press (AP) poll 13 times, whether in their preseason or final rankings. The AP poll is compiled by 62 sportswriters and broadcasters from across the nation, and they’ve undoubtedly rewarded some of the great accomplishments of the Aggies on the gridiron.

Who could forget Texas A&M’s electrifying 2012 season that marked a handful of historic firsts? The Maroon and White were led by first-year head coach Kevin Sumlin in their first year as a member of the SEC. Johnny Manziel became the first freshman to be awarded the Heisman, and only the second Aggie player ever to win the hardware.

And in a feat that is timely for this article, Texas A&M’s fifth-place finish in the AP Poll was also the highest for the program since 1956.

Here at Aggies Wire, we’re breaking down where Texas A&M has been ranked in the preseason and at the end of each season since 2000 in the Associated Press (AP) poll. Relieve the glorious highs and try to forget the lows as we take a trip down memory lane.

FIW Exclusive: Interview with Notre Dame guard Dane Goodwin

Hear from one of the Irish’s most prominent players.

[autotag]Dane Goodwin[/autotag] is Notre Dame’s highest returning scorer from a season ago. At 13.6 points a game, he also is only returnee who averaged double digits in scoring last year. Additionally, he should see plenty of time on the floor after playing 33.5 minutes a game. To say the least, he will be key to the Irish’s success during the 2022-23 season.

Given Goodwin’s lengthy tenure with the Irish and continued productivity, we knew we had to interview him when we traveled to the Irish’s local media day in South Bend. We had the opportunity to do that, and perhaps the biggest takeaway was that he is very much focused on this season and only somewhat interested in what already has happened. That’s a sign of a true leader.

We asked Goodwin about a variety of topics, and he didn’t miss a beat with any of his answers. Here’s what he had to say:

Notre Dame’s Olivia Miles racking up preseason honors

Congrats, Olivia!

With Notre Dame ranked ninth in the AP preseason poll, there’s bound to be a player who is at the center of it all. There is, and her name is [autotag]Olivia Miles[/autotag]. Over the past week, Miles has been recognized twice for what many believe she will contribute this season.

First, Miles made the preseason watch list for the Nancy Lieberman Award, which goes to the top point guard in Division I. She came close to winning it last year as she made the final cut before Iowa’s Caitlin Clark took home the hardware.

Soon after, Miles was named to the ACC’s preseason all-conference team. She was one of three team members to receive first-place votes (she received three). This comes one year after she was the only freshman to make the All-ACC First Team.

Big expectations mean someone likely will be recognized, and Miles is that someone for the Irish.

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Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Notre Dame ranked ninth in AP preseason poll

No reason not to watch the Irish this year.

Notre Dame has bounced back from a brief period of mediocrity to become a respected women’s basketball power once again. That can be said for the certain as the Irish were voted ninth in the AP preseason poll. It’s quite the jump considering that last year, the Irish were left out of the preseason rankings for the first time since 2006. Now, they’re a top-10 preseason team for the first time since they were coming off their 2018 national championship.

The ACC will be stacked with top teams trying to take the Irish down. At seventh, Louisville is the only conference program ranked ahead of the Irish. Also in the preseason poll are NC State (10th), North Carolina (12th) and Virginia Tech (13th). Miami and Duke received votes but didn’t crack the poll. And then, you have to remember that sixth-ranked UConn is coming to South Bend for a nonconference game in December.

There are plenty of reasons to watch this year’s Irish, and the competition is a major one.

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Notre Dame receives single vote in preseason AP poll

How excited are you to see this?

It’s amazing how the perception of a program can change in a year. Notre Dame wasn’t on anyone’s radar at the beginning of last season. Now, college basketball fans have to at least consider the possibility that the Irish will make noise in 2022-23. That’s because the AP has come out with its preseason poll, and the Irish were one of five programs to receive exactly one vote.

As typically is the case, the Irish will have to prove themselves against some quality ACC competition. North Carolina, last year’s national runner-up, is the top-ranked team in this poll. Duke isn’t ranked too far behind the Tar Heels at seventh. Virginia also is ranked at 18th, and other ACC programs that received votes but weren’t ranked are Miami, Florida State and Virginia Tech.

Exciting times have returned to South Bend, and it’s up to the Irish to keep those times going, tough as it might be.

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Consensus betting favorite Gonzaga comes in No. 2 to UNC in AP top 25 preseason poll

The Tar Heels were voted first place by a wide margin.

The North Carolina Tar Heels were voted as the top college basketball team in the country in the AP Top 25 preseason poll revealed Monday. They easily outpaced Gonzaga in first-place votes by a tally of 47-12, leaving the consensus national title betting favorite to take No. 2 in the poll.

The only other teams to receive first-place votes were No. 3 Houston (1) and No. 4 Kentucky (2). Kansas and Baylor are tied for No. 5.

UNC, Gonzaga, Houston and Kentucky all have +1000 odds to win next year’s national championship at BetMGM, tied for shortest in the country. But other places give the Bulldogs a slight edge, like Tipico, which has Gonzaga at +900. Gonzaga is even shorter with +850 odds at FanDuel.

Below is a look at the AP Top 25 and odds for each team courtesy of BetMGM.

Notre Dame cracks Top 10 in Preseason AP Poll

For the second year in a row, Notre Dame is ranked inside the Top 10 in the AP preseason poll.

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As college football creeps closer and closer to it’s opening kickoff, the preseason AP Poll was released today and Notre Dame was the final team inside the Top 10.

This might seem a bit low, but the AP included teams from the Big Ten and the PAC-12, even though they will not be playing football this fall. Ohio State (2), Penn State (7) and Oregon (9), are all in front of the Irish, but that is just logistical right now. Essentially the Irish are the 7th rated team in the country.

Here is the full top 25:

  1. Clemson
  2. Ohio State
  3. Alabama
  4. Georgia
  5. Oklahoma
  6. LSU
  7. Penn State
  8. Florida
  9. Oregon
  10. Notre Dame
  11. Auburn
  12. Wisconsin
  13. Texas A&M
  14. Texas
  15. Oklahoma State
  16. Michigan
  17. USC
  18. North Carolina
  19. Minnesota
  20. Cincinnati
  21. UCF
  22. Utah
  23. Iowa State
  24. Iowa
  25. Tennessee
Others receiving votes:

Memphis 86, Virginia Tech 85, Boise State 68, Arizona State 66, Miami (FL) 42, Louisville 32, Appalachian State 26, Washington 21, Kentucky 20, Indiana 19, Baylor 15, California 11, TCU 9, Virginia 7, Navy 6, Florida State 6, SMU 3, Mississippi State 3, Air Force 3, Northwestern 1, UAB 1

This is the second year in a row that Notre Dame Football will start off inside the Top 10, they were 9th in last years poll. In 2018, the Irish were just two spots outside the Top 10, beginning the year ranked 12th.

The expectations will be high in this odd season. The Irish will have to face the preseason number 1 team Clemson Tigers and the 18th ranked North Carolina Tar Heels. Those are the three lone ACC teams that were ranked by the AP. The SEC led everyone with 7 teams in the Top 25, while the Big Ten had 6 and the Big XII had 4. The PAC-12 tied the ACC with three teams also.