In the preseason Associated Press basketball poll, Kansas didn't fall far from where it finished last season.
The Jayhawks are third in the poll released Monday, trailing first-place Duke and Kentucky. The Blue Devils received 58 first-place votes, Kentucky two. Kansas didn't get a first-place vote but No. 4 Villanova received four, and fifth-ranked Oregon got one.
Rounding out the top 10: North Carolina, Xavier, Virginia, Wisconsin and Arizona.
Three other Big 12 schools cracked the poll led by West Virginia at No. 20. Texas was No. 21 and Iowa State No. 24.
No SEC school beside Kentucky was ranked.
The Jayhawks return three starters _ guards Frank Mason and Devonte Graham and forward Landon Lucas _ from last year's team that finished first in the final AP poll, taken at the conclusion of conference tournaments.
To that mix, Kansas has added freshman Josh Jackson, considered one of the nation's top newcomers.
The Jayhawks reached the regional final before falling to Villanova, which won the national championship in a thrilling game against North Carolina.
