NEW YORK –Wichita State and Cincinnati both debuted in the USA Today Coaches Poll top 25 release on Thursday. The Shockers were tabbed No. 8 in the poll, while the Bearcats ranked 13th.
On Monday, Cincinnati was narrowly voted the preseason favorite in the American Athletic Conference, collecting seven of 12 first-place votes to best Wichita State by a single point in the poll.
For Wichita State, the top-10 appearance marks the program’s highest preseason ranking in 36 years. Meanwhile, the No. 13 ranking is the Bearcats' highest preseason ranking in the USA Today poll since prior to the 1999-2000 campaign when UC was listed third.