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Gonzaga Basketball

Gonzaga No. 14, Saint Mary’s 17 in AP preseason poll

Gonzaga coach Mark Few, being introduced in the McCarthey Athletic Center for Kraziness in the Kennel, opens the season as the No. 14th-ranked team in the AP preseason poll. (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-Review)

Gonzaga is No. 14 and West Coast Conference rival Saint Mary’s is No. 17 in the AP men’s basketball preseason poll.

The Zags and Gaels shared the WCC title last season. They’ll meet two times in the regular season: Jan. 14 in Spokane and Feb. 11 in Moraga, California.

Arizona, GU’s opponent Dec. 3 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, is No. 10. The Zags and No. 24 Iowa State could meet at the AdvoCare Invitational in Orlando but they are on opposite sides of the bracket. Miami, which is in the receiving-votes category, is a potential opponent in Orlando.

Gonzaga, which was No. 9 in last year’s preseason poll, will face at least three foes receiving votes (San Diego State, Washington and Florida or Seton Hall in Orlando).

Duke was voted No. 1 in the preseason poll for the eighth time. The Blue Devils are followed by Kentucky, Kansas, defending national champion Villanova and Oregon.

Gonzaga was No. 13 and Saint Mary’s No. 19 in the USA Today preseason poll.