WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & SportsFour SEC teams open in coaches' preseason top 25

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WRCB) -- Kentucky leads four Southeastern Conference basketball programs that will open the 2011-12 season ranked in the top 25 by college basketball coaches.

Tennessee and Georgia are not in that group.

The Wildcats are No. 2 in the ESPN/USA Today Preseason Coaches' Poll, which was released Thursday morning. Top-ranked North Carolina is the only team ahead of UK, receiving 30 of the 31 possible first-place votes. Kentucky received the other top nod.

Vanderbilt and Florida will also open the season ranked in the top ten. The Commodores debut at No. 7, while the Gators are No. 10.

Alabama is also ranked, checking in at No. 17.

Mississippi State is the only SEC program receiving votes outside the top 25, garnering 11 points.

Tennessee and Georgia did not receive any votes after each program lost two starters as early entries into the NBA Draft. Of course, the Cuonzo Martin is  also replacing embattled UT head coach Bruce Pearl, who was fired following last year's first-round NCAA Tournament loss to Michigan.

2012 ESPN/USA Today Preseason Coaches' Poll
(SEC teams in BOLD)

1 North Carolina (30) 0-0 774 8
2 Kentucky (1) 0-0 721 3
3 Ohio State 0-0 702 5
4 Connecticut 0-0 655 1
5 Syracuse 0-0 649 18
6 Duke 0-0 635 7
7 Vanderbilt 0-0 567 NR
8 Louisville 0-0 514 22
9 Memphis 0-0 482 NR
10 Florida 0-0 474 10
11 Pittsburgh 0-0 471 12
12 Baylor 0-0 358 NR
13 Kansas 0-0 331 4
14 Wisconsin 0-0 313 15
15 Xavier 0-0 277 NR
16 Arizona 0-0 269 9
17 Alabama 0-0 194 NR
18 Michigan 0-0 187 NR
19 Texas A&M 0-0 161 NR
20 UCLA 0-0 147 NR
21 Marquette 0-0 145 20
22 Cincinnati 0-0 141 NR
23 Gonzaga 0-0 125 NR
24 California 0-0 111 NR
25 Missouri 0-0 110 NR

Others receiving votes: Florida State 108, Texas 107, Michigan State 73, Temple 59, Washington 29, Butler 25, New Mexico 22, Creighton 19, Villanova 18, Purdue 17, UNLV 16, West Virginia 13, George Mason 12, Mississippi State 11, St. John's 11, Saint Mary's 5, Virginia 5, Virginia Commonwealth 4, Drexel 2, Kansas State 2, Long Beach State 2, Notre Dame 1, Brigham Young 1