After its run to the national championship game, the Wisconsin Badgers begin the 2015-16 season as the No. 17 team in the preseason AP Top 25 Poll released Monday.
Duke, which defeated Wisconsin for the NCAA tournament championship, opens at No. 5. North Carolina, which Wisconsin knocked off in the Sweet 16.
Fellow Big Ten Conference member Maryland opens at No. 3; in total, the Big Ten has six teams in the preseason poll: Maryland, No. 13 Michigan State, No. 15 Indiana, No. 17 Wisconsin, No. 23 Purdue and No. 25 Michigan.
Wisconsin has an exhibition game against UW-River Falls on Wednesday and will open the season Nov.