Clemson ranked in preseason Coaches Poll

Elijah Thomas is one of four starters returning from a Sweet 16 run.

Brandon Rink · Assoc. Editor / Staff Writer · Thursday, October 25 2018

Clemson enters the 2018-19 season with some high expectations coming off of a Sweet 16 run, with four starters returning.

The Coaches Poll joined its fellow preseason rankings with Clemson in the top-25 preseason on Thursday, at No. 23.

Brad Brownell's Tigers came in at No. 22 in the AP Poll on Monday. Clemson hadn't been ranked in the preseason since 2009 prior.

Clemson was picked sixth in the preseason ACC media poll on Thursday. Seven ACC schools made the Coaches Poll in all, with the Tigers joined by Duke (3), Virginia (5), North Carolina (7), Syracuse (14), Florida State (15) and Virginia Tech (17).

Clemson tips off the 2017-18 campaign with an exhibition at UNC-Wilmington on Saturday (5 p.m.) and then another at home next Thursday (Barton College, 7 p.m.) before opening the season hosting The Citadel on Nov. 6 (7 p.m.).

USA TODAY Preseason Poll (2017-18 record)

1. Kansas (31-8)

2. Kentucky (26-11)

3. Duke (29-8)

4. Gonzaga (32-5)

5. Virginia (31-3)

6. Tennessee (26-9)

7. North Carolina (26-11)

8. Villanova (36-4)

9. Nevada (29-8)

10. Michigan State (30-5)

11. Kansas State (25-12)