Jayhawks are overwhelming favorite to win '09-10 title

Kansas is the nation's preseason No. 1 team, according to the U.S. Basketball Writers Association board of directors.

The Jayhawks return all five starters – including All-America candidates Cole Aldrich and Sherron Collins – from a team that went 27-8 in what generally was considered a rebuilding year after they won the 2008 national title.

They also added wingman Xavier Henry, considered one of the nation's top freshmen.

The Big Ten Conference played five teams among the USBWA's Top 25, four of them among the top 15. Micigan State is ranked second and Purdue is tied for fifth with Villanova. Michigan is 14th, Ohio State is tied for 15th with Washington and Illinois is 20th. Minnesota also was among schools receiving votes.

The Atlantic Coast Conference, Big East Conference and Southeastern Conference each received four teams among the Top 25.

The ACC placed defending national champion North Carolina at No. 7, Duke at No. 8, Georgia Tech at No. 23 and Clemson at 24.

Besides Villanova's tie for fifth, the Big East was represented by Connecticut (13), Louisville (tied for 18th with Dayton) and Georgetown (21).

Among SEC schools, Kentucky was ranked fourth, Tennessee 11th, Mississippi State 17th and Florida 25th.

Other members of the Top 10 were Texas at No. 3 and Butler at No. 10. Other schools named to the Top 25 were California, at No. 12 and Siena at No. 22.