PROVO, Utah – BYU basketball is knocking on the door of the AP Top 25 entering the 2024-25 season.
The preseason poll was released Monday, and BYU was in the “others receiving votes” category. If the poll were extended, BYU would be the 35th team in the country entering its first year under head coach Kevin Young.
#BYU basketball is receiving votes in the preseason AP Top 25.
The Cougars are at No. 35 entering the 2024-25 season, based on the votes they received.#BYUHoops
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 14, 2024
BYU’s votes are courtesy of two pollsters. The highest ranking came from Illinois beat writer Scott Richey of the News-Gazette in Champaign, Illinois, who had BYU at No. 16 in his poll.
BYU’s other vote was from Darnell Dickson of the Provo Daily Herald. He had BYU ranked No. 22.
Last year, BYU basketball was a fixture in the AP Top 25. They entered the poll in the fourth week of the season and were there for only one week.
The last time BYU was ranked in the preseason of an AP Top 25 poll was Jimmer Fredette’s senior year in 2010-11.
BYU basketball is gearing up for its second year in the Big 12 Conference. Last season, the Cougars finished fifth in the league.
The preseason AP Top 25 shows that the Big 12 is again viewed as one of the best leagues in America.
For the first time ever, a conference placed five teams in the Top 10 of the preseason AP Top 25 poll.
AP preseason polls began in the 1961-62 season.
The 2024-25 college hoops season has yet to tip off and #Big12MBB has already made history.
What’s Next? We Are. pic.twitter.com/gX50XNVFK6
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) October 14, 2024
Big 12 powerhouse Kansas was ranked the No. 1 team in the country, while Houston was ranked No. 4, Iowa State was ranked No. 5, Baylor was ranked No. 8, and Big 12 newcomer Arizona was ranked No. 10.
The Big 12 has a sixth team in the preseason AP Top 25. That’s Cincinnati at No. 20.
Along with BYU, Texas Tech, Kansas State, and Arizona State are in the “others receiving votes” category of the poll.
Released October 14, 2024
1. Kansas | Big 12
2. Alabama | SEC
3. UConn | Big East
4. Houston | Big 12
5. Iowa State | Big 12
6. Gonzaga | WCC
7. Duke | ACC
8. Baylor | Big 12
9. North Carolina | ACC
10. Arizona | Big 12
11. Auburn | SEC
12. Tennessee | SEC
13. Texas A&M | SEC
14. Purdue | Big Ten
15. Creighton | Big East
16. Arkansas | SEC
17. Indiana | Big Ten
18. Marquette | Big East
19. Texas | SEC
20. Cincinnati | Big 12
21. Florida | SEC
22. UCLA | Big Ten
23. Kentucky | SEC
24. Ole Miss | SEC
25. Rutgers | Big Ten
Others Receiving Votes: Illinois 92, St. John’s 91, Xavier 73, Texas Tech 58, Wake Forest 37, Kansas St 30, Michigan St. 29, Ohio St. 29, Michigan 19, BYU 14, Oregon 12, McNeese St. 11, Miami 11, Boise St. 9, Saint Louis 9, Clemson 9, Providence 9, Mississippi St. 6, VCU 6, Wisconsin 5, Saint Mary’s 5, Louisville 4, UAB 4, Ark Little Rock 3, Grand Canyon 3, Arizona St 2, San Diego St. 2, Princeton 2, High Point 1, Maryland 1.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU in the Big 12 Conference on X: @Mitch_Harper.
