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Florida Tops AP Preseason Poll as Returning Core Keeps Gators Favored

Voters rewarded Florida's rare retention of four starters, framing the preseason No. 1 as a test of whether returning chemistry will deliver season-long consistency.

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Overview

  • Florida was voted No. 1 in the Associated Press preseason Top 25 on Monday, receiving 47 of the 59 first-place votes with Duke (10) and Illinois (2) next in the tally.
  • The Gators return four starters from the 2025 national-title core, a level of continuity that is rare in the transfer-portal era and a primary reason voters elevated them.
  • Florida's frontcourt — Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu — is widely described as a national strength after they combined for double‑figure scoring and rebounding last season.
  • The ranking carries qualified praise because last season included a midseason slump, an SEC regular‑season title and an unexpected No. 1 seed second‑round NCAA loss, putting a premium on consistency.
  • Florida's early slate — including Nov. 2 at Miami, the Players Era event in Las Vegas, and a Dec. 1 home game vs. Duke — will be the first concrete tests of whether the returning roster can justify the top billing.