CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) -- Illinois cracked the top 20 of the preseason AP Men's Basketball poll.

The Illini are ranked No. 17 in the first AP Poll of the season, one of six Big Ten teams. Purdue leads the pack with 35 first-place votes, with Michigan seventh and UCLA 12th.

Other ranked Illini opponents include UConn, Texas Tech, Alabama and Tennessee.

AP PRESEASON TOP 25 • Purdue (35) • Houston (16) • Florida (8) • UConn (2) • St. John's • Duke • Michigan • BYU • Kentucky • Texas Tech • Louisville • UCLA • Arizona • Arkansas • Alabama • Iowa State • Illinois • Tennessee • Kansas • Auburn • Gonzaga • Michigan State • Creighton • Wisconsin • North Carolina

Receiving votes: NC State 101, Oregon 98, San Diego St. 74, Texas 35, Ohio St. 23,

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