The preseason Associated Press Top 25 Poll was released Friday and, like the USA TODAY/ESPN Top 25 Coaches Poll announced last Thursday, has the North Carolina Tar Heels slotted as the overwhelming No. 1 team in the country with 62 of 65 first-place votes. North Carolina, which received 30 of 31 first-place votes in the USA TODAY/ESPN poll and returns all five starters from 2010, is one spot ahead of the Kentucky Wildcats.
Four Southeastern Conference teams made the respective polls including Kentucky [No. 2-USA, No. 2-AP], Vanderbilt [No. 7, No. 7], the Florida Gators [No. 10, No. 8] and Alabama [No. 17, No. 19].
The 2010-11 Gators were ranked No. 11 and No. 13 heading into last season, which saw them win the SEC and end the year with a record of 29-8 (13-3 SEC) that included an appearance in the Elite Eight round of the 2011 NCAA Tournament.
| Athlete | Country | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Kolozsvary | USA | Baseball |
| Marife Torres | Puerto Rico | Golf |
| Leanne Wong | USA | Gymnastics |
| Adriana Leon | Canada | Soccer |
| Deanne Rose | Canada | Soccer |
| Michelle Moultrie | USA | Softball |
| Aubree Munro | USA | Softball |
| Kelsey Stewart | USA | Softball |
| Caeleb Dressel | USA | Swimming 4x100 free 100m free 50m free |
| Amro Al-Wir | Jordan | Swimming 200 breast |
| Natalie Hinds | USA | Swimming 4x100 free |
| Bobby Finke | USA | Swimming 800m free 1500m free |
| Eric Friese | Germany | Swimming 4x100 free |
| Enzo Martinez | Uruguay | Swimming 50m free |
| Alfonso Mestre | Venezuela | Swimming 800m free |
| Kieran Smith | USA | Swimming 400m free 200m free 4x200 free |
| Andres Arroyo | Puerto Rico | T&F 800m |
| Doneisha Anderson | Bahamas | T&F 4x400 relay |
| Lloydricia Cameron | Jamaica | T&F Shot put |
| Will Claye | USA | T&F Triple jump |
| Marquis Dendy | USA | T&F Long jump |
| Yanis David | France | T&F Triple jump Long jump |
| Joseph Fahnbulleh | Liberia | T&F 200m |
| Grant Holloway | USA | T&F 110m hurdles |
| Genevive LaCaze | Australia | T&F 3000m steeple |
| Eddie Lovett | U.S. Virgin | T&F 110m hurdles |
| Taylor Mason | USA | T&F |
| Cory McGee | USA | T&F 1500m |
| Hakim Sani Brown | Japan | T&F 200m |
| Marija Vucenovic | Serbia | T&F Javelin |
USA TODAY/ESPN COACHES POLL
Preseason 1-5: UNC (30), Kentucky (1), Ohio State, UConn, Syracuse
6-10: Duke, Vanderbilt, Louisville, Memphis, Florida
11-15: Pittsburgh, Baylor, Kansas, Wisconsin, Xavier
16-20: Arizona, Alabama, Michigan, Texas A&M, UCLA
21-25: Marquette, Cincinnati, Gonzaga, California, Missouri
ASSOCIATED PRESS TOP 25 POLL
Preseason 1-5: UNC (62), Kentucky, Ohio State (1), UConn (2), Syracuse
6-10: Duke, Vanderbilt, Florida, Louisville, Pittsburgh
11-15: Memphis, Baylor, Kansas, Xavier, Wisconsin
16-20: Arizona, UCLA, Michigan, Alabama, Texas A&M
21-25: Cincinnati, Marquette, Gonzaga, California, Missouri
*Numbers in parenthesis represent first-place votes.
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