The 2024-25 college basketball season is here, and with it comes the first official ranking of the new season.

First up is the AP Top 25 Poll, which debuted on Monday. The Kentucky Wildcats are ranked No. 23 entering Year 1 of the Mark Pope era. While not the normal top-10ish ranking we became accustomed to since 2009, it’s still not too shabby for Pope to assemble a top-25-caliber roster as fast as he did once he replaced John Calipari.

The Kansas Jayhawks took home the top spot, followed by the Alabama Crimson Tide, UConn Huskies, Houston Cougars, and Iowa State Cyclones.

Kentucky’s first major opponent, the Duke Blue Devils, checked in at No. 7.

1. Kansas

2. Alabama

3. UConn

4. Houston

5. Iowa State

6. Gonzaga

7. Duke

8. Baylor

9. North Carolina

10. Arizona

11. Auburn

12. Tennessee

13. Texas A&M

14. Purdue

15. Creighton

16. Arkansas

17. Indiana

18. Marquette

19. Texas

20. Cincinnati

21. Florida

22. UCLA

23. Kentucky

24. Ole Miss

25. Rutgers

Others receiving votes: Illinois 92, St. John’s 91, Xavier 73, Texas Tech 58, Wake Forest 37, Kansas St 30, Michigan St. 29, Ohio St. 29, Michigan 19, BYU 14, Oregon 12, McNeese St. 11, Miami 11, Boise St. 9, Saint Louis 9, Clemson 9, Providence 9, Mississippi St. 6, VCU 6, Wisconsin 5, Saint Mary’s 5, Louisville 4, UAB 4, Ark Little Rock 3, Grand Canyon 3, Arizona St 2, San Diego St. 2, Princeton 2, High Point 1, Maryland 1.