Sean Miller hopes to be No. 1 at the end of the year. Photo by Chris Morrison-US PRESSWIRE
The Arizona Wildcats will begin the college basketball season 12th in the AP poll, which was released Friday morning.
Arizona is the highest-rated Pac-12 team in the preseason rankings, with UCLA a tick behind at No. 13. UCLA star freshman Shabazz Muhammad could miss the start of the season because of a shoulder strain, and his eligibility is still being investigated.
Stanford, with a mere two points, was the only other Pac-12 team to be on a AP ballot.
Indiana received 43 of the 65 first-place votes and is No. 1. Louisville (20 first-place votes) is second, followed by Kentucky (two first-place votes).
Arizona’s marquee non-conference game comes Dec. 15 at McKale Center against Florida, which is 10th in the preseason rankings.
The Wildcats were No. 11 in the USA Today preseason coaches poll.