City of Basketball Love

Stephen Pianovich (@SPianovich)

Villanova will start the season in the top 10 of at least one national poll.

The Wildcats were tabbed as the No. 9 team in the nation in the preseason USA Today Coaches Poll, which was released Thursday. Jay Wright’s team – which was picked as the Big East favorite on Wednesday – checks in with 498 points in the initial poll, sitting between No. 8 Oklahoma and No. 10 Arizona.

Household names dominated the top of the poll. Kentucky and North Carolina were tied for the No. 1 spot with Maryland, Duke and Kansas rounding out the top five. The entire poll can be found here.

Villanova is the only team in the CoBL coverage area to receive votes in the poll, and the team is coming off a 33-3 season that ended in a disappointing early exit from the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats return Ryan Arcidiacono, Daniel Ochefu and Phil Booth and added McDonald’s All-American Jalen Brunson to the roster.

Butler is the only other Big East team ranked in the top 25, and the Bulldogs start the year at No. 22. Georgetown, Xavier, Providence and Marquette all also received votes.

While no other Philly teams are included in the poll that is voted on by 32 coaches across the country (including Drexel’s Bruiser Flint), there are some city connections in the poll. Westtown School’s Jared Nickens will be a factor for No. 3 Maryland, and St. Joe’s Prep product Steve Vasturia is one of the best shooters for No. 18 Notre Dame.