The Kentucky Wildcats are the No. 1 team in the CBSSports.com Top 25 (And One) college basketball preseason rankings released Monday.
After missing the NCAA tournament last season, the Wildcats are picked by our panel of experts as the top team in the nation before the 2013-14 season begins on Nov. 8.
Kentucky sophomores Willie Cauley-Stein and Alex Poythress will be joined by newcomers Julius Randle and twin brothers Aaron and Andrew Harrison as the Wildcats begin the chase for their ninth NCAA championship.
Louisville, the Wildcats' bitter in-state rival, is the No. 2 team in the CBSSports.com Top 25 (And One) college basketball preseason rankings.
Led by guard Russ Smith, who is returning for his senior season, the Cardinals are the defending national champions.
Kentucky and Louisville will face each other on Dec. 28 on CBS.
Michigan State, Kansas and Duke round out the top five of the CBSSports.com Top 25 (And One) rankings, which are compiled weekly during the season by CBSSports.com college basketball insider Gary Parrish.
Here is the Top 25 (And One) selections from our panel of experts.