GU No. 7 in 1st poll

Gonzaga University is ranked No. 7 in the preseason USA Today/ESPN college basketball coaches poll that was released Friday.

The Bulldogs, who finished No. 18 in last year’s final poll with a 26-5 record, received no first-place votes, but managed to amass 540 points – four more than No. 8 Louisville.

Duke, with 28 first-place votes and 767 points, is the overwhelming choice for the No. 1 spot, followed by Connecticut, Texas, Villanova, Michigan State and Oklahoma. No. 9 Arizona and No. 10 Kentucky round out the top 10.

Along with putting GU in the middle of college basketball’s radar screen once again, the poll also speaks volumes about the strength of the Bulldogs’ ambitious non-conference schedule, which includes a trip to the EA Sports Maui Invitational (Nov. 21-23).

The loaded eight-team Maui field also boasts Top 10 teams Connecticut, Michigan State and Arizona, along with No. 21 Maryland, the Zags’ first-round opponent, and Kansas, which was fourth among unranked teams also receiving votes.

Among the other preseason Top 25 teams on GU’s schedule are No. 12 Memphis and No. 13 Stanford. Two other early-season foes, Washington and Oklahoma State, are also among unranked teams receiving votes.

Gonzaga will play home exhibition games against Lewis-Clark State College (Nov. 5) and UC San Diego (Nov. 12) before opening the regular season, also at home, against Idaho on Nov. 18.