Coaches pick UConn, Duke as best in nation

The Wildcats may not be in the 2003-04 Final Four yet, but they're a part of this season's first four.

UA men's basketball was picked fourth in the nation by the ESPN/USA Today preseason top 25 coaches' poll, released yesterday.

Arizona, which received 638 votes, is sandwiched between Michigan State, with 677 votes, and 2002-03 NCAA Tournament runner-up Kansas, which eliminated the Wildcats in last season's West Regional Final, with 589.

Connecticut was placed in the position that their female counterparts are accustomed to, receiving the poll's No. 1 ranking with 762 votes. Duke placed second with 697.

Missouri is sixth in the poll, followed by 2002-03 national champion Syracuse. Florida, Kentucky and North Carolina round out the top 10.

Stanford is the Pacific 10 Conference's only other representative in the poll atNo. 17.