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The 2015-2016 college basketball season is right around the corner. Both the Coaches Poll and AP Poll were released today and while neither of them feature the Syracuse Orange, they do feature plenty future opponents.
The Associated Press Poll features North Carolina at No. 1. The Orange will take on the Tar Heels on Saturday, January 9th in the Carrier Dome and also travel to Chapel Hill Monday, February 29th for a showdown in the Dean Dome. Rounding out the Top 5 is Kentucky, Maryland, Kansas, and Duke. The Orange will take on the Blue Devils on Saturday, January 18th in Cameron Indoor. Virginia came in ranked at Number 6 and the Orange will travel to Charlottesville to take on the Cavaliers on Saturday, January 23rd. Other ranked opponents the Orange will take on are Wisconsin and Notre Dame, who came in a 17th and 19th respectively.
The Orange will also either take on Connecticut or Michigan in the Battle 4 Atlantis. The Huskies come in ranked 20th, while the Wolverines are ranked 25th. Other teams the Orange will take on that received votes are Miami, Louisville, Georgetown, NC State, and Florida State. Other notable teams that were ranked include Villanova at #11 and Cal at #14, who could get back in this.
The Coaches Poll was also released, and it looks a little different. Tied at No. 1 is Kentucky and North Carolina, while Maryland, Duke, and Kansas round out the top 5. Virginia and Wisconsin remain at No. 6 and No. 17 respectively. Notre Dame slides down a spot coming in at No. 18, and UConn comes in at No. 24. Michigan leads the way in the "others receiving votes" category. They are joined by other Orange opponents that include: Louisville, Georgetown, NC State, Florida St, and Miami.
Jim Boeheim was one of the 32 coaches selected to vote in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
This is the first installation of the polls, and obviously a lot can change from now and until ACC play but expect North Carolina, Duke, and Virginia to be the top 3 teams this year. We will see if the Orange can give them a run for their money and contend amongst the big boys of college basketball this year.