The Kentucky basketball team is ranked No. 9 in the Preseason ESPN/USA Today Coaches? Poll, released on Thursday evening.

The Wildcats are tops among four Southeastern Conference schools ranked in the first poll of the year. Mississippi State makes the top 15 at No. 14, while Alabama ranks 18th and Florida is No. 22.

Two Kentucky non-conference opponents rank in the top three as Kansas gets the preseason No. 1 ranking for the second time in the history of the poll. North Carolina, UK?s first road opponent of the year, follows Wake Forest at No. 3.

Kentucky finished last season ranked eighth in the coaches? poll, but was No. 2 in the final Associated Press poll.

UK begins exhibition play against Northern Kentucky on Wednesday, Nov. 3. The UKTV game tips at 7 p.m. in Rupp Arena.