Nov. 11, 2003

TUCSON, Ariz. - The University of Arizona men's basketball team will open the season as the nation's fourth-ranked team according to the Associated Press, which released its 2003-04 preseason college basketball poll on Tuesday.

With eight letterwinners returning from last season's 28-4 ballclub that captured the 2003 Pacific-10 Conference championship and advanced to the NCAA West Regional final, Arizona collected the preseason No. 4 ranking from the AP with a total of 1,476 points. Connecticut, Duke and Michigan State were picked ahead of the Wildcats, while Missouri rounded out the top five places.

It marks the fourth time in the last five years in which Arizona has been ranked in the top 10 nationally to start the season.

Arizona opens the 2003-04 campaign in Tucson against Northern Arizona on Monday, Nov. 24. Four opponents on the Wildcats' 2003-04 schedule are ranked in this preseason top 25.

2003-04 Preseason Associated Press Top 25 Poll

Rnk.	Team            	Points	Last 1.	Connecticut (67)	1,793	23 2.	Duke (3)           	1,667	 7 3	Michigan State (1)	1,607	NR 4.	ARIZONA         	1,476	 2 5.	Missouri        	1,436	24 6.	Kansas (1)      	1,396	 6 7.	Syracuse        	1,311	13 8.	Florida         	1,219 	10 9.	North Carolina  	1,139	NR10.	Gonzaga         	1,125   NR11.	Kentucky        	1,092	 112.	Texas           	1,083	 513.	Illinois        	  941	1114.	Oklahoma        	  822	 315.	Wisconsin       	  715	2116.	Louisville	          623	1417.	Saint Joseph's   	  579	NR18.	Cincinnati      	  578	NR19.	Stanford        	  555	1820.	Wake Forest     	  458	 821.	Notre Dame      	  429	2222.	Pittsburgh      	  382	 423.	Marquette       	  155	 924.	North Carolina State	  120	NR25.	Oklahoma State  	   93	NR