"The Associated Press released its preseason men's basketball poll Monday and the Red Storm will open the season ranked No. 5 in the nation. It's the highest ranking in an AP preseason poll in program history. St. John's last opened a season in the national rankings 26 years ago, when it was No. 18 going into the 1999-2000 season, and hasn't started a season ranked in the Top 10 since it debuted at No. 10 for the 1991-92 season."
"The unveiling of the poll also frames how challenging St. John's schedule is. The final tune-up for the regular season is Oct. 25 against No. 7 Michigan at the Garden. After its season-opening contest against Quinnipiac on Nov. 3, its second game is against No. 15 Alabama at the Garden five days later. The Red Storm also have at least two more non-conference games against ranked opponents."
St. John's is ranked No. 5 in the AP preseason men's basketball poll, the program's highest preseason ranking ever. The team last began a season ranked 26 years ago at No. 18 and last started in the Top 10 in 1991-92 at No. 10. The No. 5 ranking surpasses the No. 7 preseason position from 1984-85, when St. John's reached the Final Four behind Chris Mullin and Walter Berry. The schedule includes marquee games at Madison Square Garden and multiple nonconference matchups against ranked opponents such as Michigan, Alabama, Iowa State and Kentucky. Creighton was the only other Big East team to receive votes. Last season St. John's went 31-5 and earned a No. 2 NCAA Tournament seed.
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