ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 27 (UPI) -- Defending national champion Florida is a near-unanimous pick for No. 1 in the preseason ESPN/USA Today coaches college basketball poll released Friday.
The Gators return all five starters from the team that trounced UCLA, 73-57, in last season's NCAA title game.
At least three of those players -- center Joakim Noah, forward Al Horford, and guard Taurean Green -- were called "potential" prospects before June's NBA Draft.
North Carolina was second, Kansas was third, Ohio State was fourth and UCLA tied for fifth with Pittsburgh.
LSU, Georgetown, Wisconsin and Arizona filled out the remainder of the top 10.
The next 10 schools are Duke, Alabama, Texas A&M, Memphis, Boston College, Washington, Marquette, Connecticut, Texas and Syracuse.
Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Creighton, Tennessee and Nevada complete the top 25.
Florida also is the choice in the SEC preseason media poll.
