Men 10th, women 24th in early poll

The Arizona men's basketball team will begin the 2004-05 season with the nation's No. 10 ranking, The Associated Press announced yesterday.

The Wildcats were the highest ranked Pacific 10 Conference team with Washington being the only other squad earning a spot in the preseason Top-25, falling in at No 22.

This was the 16th time in the last 18 years Arizona has garnered an AP national ranking. The Wildcats return 10 players from last year's team who finished 20-10 and lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Kansas earned the preseason top spot for the first time since the 1950s, when Wilt Chamberlain was a Jayhawk, gathering 22 first-place votes.

The ESPN/USA Today Coaches' poll, the second of the weekly major college basketball polls released last week, projected the Wildcats at No. 11. The Wildcats were also given a first place vote in the Coaches' poll.

Arizona begins its season Nov. 16 in the first round of the 2004 Preseason National Invitational Tournament against San Diego. The Wildcats host their final exhibition game Thursday against Sonoma State in McKale Center.

Coaches, AP pick women 24th at start

The UA women's basketball team joined its male counterpart, earning a spot in The Associated Press preseason Top 25 as well.

The Wildcats earned the No. 24 spot in the poll.

The Wildcats were also picked 24th overall by the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' poll, released last week.

Arizona was just one of two Pac-10 schools to be ranked in the Coaches' top 25, with Stanford coming in at No. 7.

Tennessee earned the top spot in the poll.

The Wildcats begin their season Friday in the Women's National Invitational Tournament against St. Mary's in McKale Center.