Top 25

I'm voting in the A.P. Top 25 for the third year. I'm planning on posting my weekly poll here. I'm having a little fun with photo blogging with my preseason poll below. It won't usually be this fancy.

1. Georgia Tech


2. Wake Forest


3. Illinois


4. Kansas

5. Syracuse


6. North Carolina

7. Mississippi State

8. Oklahoma State

9. Duke

10. Kentucky

11. Pitt

12. Arizona

13. Louisville

14. Connecticut

15. Maryland

16. Alabama

17. Michigan State

18. Texas

19. Notre Dame

20. Memphis

21. Washington

22. Gonzaga

23. NC State

24. Wisconsin

25. Boston College

I wrestled with a few things. I spent most of the summer planning on picking Wake as No. 1. I like Chris Paul's game and leadership a lot. But they were so bad defensively last year that its hard for me to see them winning it.

Rashad McCants could be a huge chemistry issue although, he's a huge talent. I still think this has the makings of a disappointing year in Carolina.

I might have UConn and Kentucky too low, but I'm not sold on Charlie Villanueva as a program carrier and the Wildctats are unproven now too. I may have Memphis too high.

I was pretty stunned to see BC without a vote in the Coaches Poll, which made stop and think a little about picking them No. 25. I don't place much stock in that poll. Too many agendas driving the picks and I question how much attention some of them really pay. I thought about Florida, Stanford and even Charlotte, who will be a sleeper, but all in all I feel pretty good about the Eagles sneaking in. I wouldn't be surprised if UAB, George Washington and even Iowa State spend some time on this list as the year progresses.

Its a weird year when Cincy isn't even considered.

After a lot of consideration I went with Georgia Tech on top. I was one of thre four people to pick them No. 1 last year after they upset UConn in the Preseason NIT and they made me look pretty good for it. They have everybody back except Lewis and they played great last year. They went to the title game with B.J. Elder injured. This is a good team that has big game experience. I like their chances.

The A.P. Poll comes out Nov. 8.