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WSU earns first-ever preseason AP ranking.

Nov. 2, 2007

PULLMAN, Wash. - For the first time in school history, Washington State University men's basketball is ranked in the Associated Press preseason Top-25 Poll, coming in at No. 10 in the 2007-08 poll released Friday.

WSU received 1,103 points from the 72-member national media panel. The Cougars' No. 10 ranking ties their second-highest ranking in the AP Poll, while the Nov. 2 ranking marks the first time WSU has been ranked in the AP poll before the month of January. WSU's highest ranking ever in the AP poll came in last season's Feb. 19 poll at No. 9.

For the sixth time since the AP started a preseason college basketball poll in 1961, North Carolina is ranked No. 1 with 1,728 points and 29 first-place votes. The Tar Heels beat out UCLA (1,710; 24 first-place votes) and Memphis (1,680; 18 first-place votes) in a three-way race for the top spot. Kansas (1,568) and Georgetown (1,504; one first-place vote) round out the top five.

Joining the Cougars in the top-10 are Louisville (1,380 points), Tennessee (1.371 points), Michigan State (1,296 points) and Indiana (1,145 points).

Four other Pac-10 teams join UCLA and Washington State in the preseason top 25 -- No. 12 Oregon, No. 17 Arizona, No. 18 USC and No. 23 Stanford. Washington (six points) also received votes.

One other team on the Cougars' schedule, Gonzaga, found itself in the preseason poll at No. 14.

A week ago, the Cougars were picked 10th in the preseason ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll, while media members voted them to finish second in the Pac-10 at the conference's annual media day Thursday.