LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas men’s basketball is No. 13 in the Associated Press (AP) Poll released Friday, marking the 20th time in the last 21 seasons dating back to 1991-92, the Jayhawks have been ranked in the AP’s preseason rankings. Last week, Kansas entered the ESPN/USA TodayCoaches’ Preseason Poll No. 13 as well.

Kansas is the seven-time defending Big 12 men’s basketball champion entering the 2011-12 season. The Jayhawks have won or tied for 11 of the 15 Big 12 regular-season titles and eight postseason titles. KU returns one starter and eight letterwinners from last season’s 35-3 team, which went 14-2 in the conference season and won the Big 12 regular-season title, the conference postseason championship and advanced to the regional final of the NCAA Tournament.

Last season, KU entered the year No. 7 nationally and held the spot for all but three of the AP polls. The Jayhawks ended the year No. 2 (note: the final AP poll is released prior to the NCAA Tournament).

2011-12 Associated Press Top 25 Preseason Poll
Rank, Team (first-place votes)
1. North Carolina (62)
2. Kentucky
3. Ohio State (1)
4. Connecticut (2)
5. Syracuse
6. Duke
7. Vanderbilt
8. Florida
9. Louisville
10. Pittsburgh
11. Memphis
12. Baylor
13. KANSAS
14. Xavier
15. Wisconsin
16. Arizona
17. UCLA
18. Michigan
19. Alabama
20. Texas A&M
21. Cincinnati
22. Marquette
23. Gonzaga
24. California
25. Missouri

– KU Athletics Media Relations –