Oct. 26, 2007

LAWRENCE, Kan. - Kansas enters the 2007-08 men's basketball season as the fourth-ranked team in the country in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' preseason poll was released Friday.

This marks the seventh time in the last eight seasons that KU has entered the coaches' preseason poll ranked seventh or higher, including the 2004-05 season when the Jayhawks were ranked first in the preseason poll. Since 1993, this is the 12th time Kansas enters the coaches' preseason poll ranked ninth or higher.

Highlighted by an early season match-up with No. 17 Arizona on Nov. 25 in Lawrence, Kansas will face four teams ranked in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches preseason poll. The Jayhawks, who received one first place vote, will also play No. 14 Texas A&M, No. 16 Texas and No. 18 USC - all on the road.

North Carolina enters the year as the preseason favorite while UCLA, Memphis and Georgetown round out the top five.