Purdue University’s basketball team has achieved a significant milestone by being ranked No. 1 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll for the first time in history. The Boilermakers secured 35 out of 61 first-place votes, putting them ahead of last year’s NCAA finalists, Houston and Florida, who are ranked second and third, respectively.
Purdue’s Historic Ranking
Head coach Matt Painter expressed his excitement about the team’s number one ranking. He emphasized the importance of maintaining this momentum throughout the season, stating that the ultimate goal is to be ranked first at the end of the season.
Top 25 Preseason AP Poll
The first Associated Press Preseason Men’s Top 25 Poll for the 2025-26 season is as follows:
| Rank | Team | Record | First-place Votes | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Purdue | 0-0 | (35) | 1485 |
| 2 | Houston | 0-0 | (16) | 1459 |
| 3 | Florida | 0-0 | (8) | 1382 |
| 4 | UConn | 0-0 | (2) | 1299 |
| 5 | St. John’s | 0-0 | 1203 | |
| 6 | Duke | 0-0 | 1123 | |
| 7 | Michigan | 0-0 | 1084 | |
| 8 | BYU | 0-0 | 1078 | |
| 9 | Kentucky | 0-0 | 1056 | |
| 10 | Texas Tech | 0-0 | 1015 | |
| 11 | Louisville | 0-0 | 966 | |
| 12 | UCLA | 0-0 | 741 | |
| 13 | Arizona | 0-0 | 715 | |
| 14 | Arkansas | 0-0 | 695 | |
| 15 | Alabama | 0-0 | 620 | |
| 16 | Iowa State | 0-0 | 616 | |
| 17 | Illinois | 0-0 | 567 | |
| 18 | Tennessee | 0-0 | 462 | |
| 19 | Kansas | 0-0 | 453 | |
| 20 | Auburn | 0-0 | 424 | |
| 21 | Gonzaga | 0-0 | 387 | |
| 22 | Michigan State | 0-0 | 188 | |
| 23 | Creighton | 0-0 | 158 | |
| 24 | Wisconsin | 0-0 | 136 | |
| 25 | North Carolina | 0-0 | 104 |
Significance for Purdue
Purdue’s rise reflects the successful direction under Coach Matt Painter, marking his 21st season. Previously, the highest the Boilermakers achieved was second place in the 1987-88 season. The team has consistently garnered attention in recent seasons, peaking at number one for the first time in 2021-22.
Last season, Purdue reached the Sweet 16 before being eliminated by Houston. This year, the Boilermakers bring back key players like Braden Smith and scorer Trey Kaufman-Renn, which may enhance their push for a championship.
Comparative Rankings
- Houston: 2nd, with 16 first-place votes.
- Florida: 3rd, with 8 first-place votes.
- UConn: 4th, with 2 first-place votes.
- St. John’s: 5th, a program-high preseason ranking.
Overall, this year’s preseason poll indicates strong competition, with teams like Kentucky and Duke also making appearances in the top ten.
