I did not vote for the Buffs on my Associated Press preseason top 25 ballot. Don’t get upset, Tad Boyle was pleased when I broke the news to him.
There is no doubt in my mind that Colorado has the talent to climb into the poll, but the jury is still out until we see all these freshmen play at this level. The good news is the 2012-13 campaign tips off in two weeks.
If Boyle’s young team wins the Charleston Classic they will certainly get my vote at that point.
Below is my ballot, which included three Pac-12 teams, and my preseason All-Americans, followed by the actual AP preseason poll.
Thorburn’s vote:
1. Indiana
2. Louisville
3. N.C. State
4. Kentucky
5. Ohio State
6. Florida
7. Kansas
8. Duke
9. Arizona
10. Syracuse
11. Missouri
12. North Carolina
13. UCLA
14. UNLV
15. Creighton
16. Michigan State
17. Michigan
18. Cincinnati
19. Notre Dame
20. San Diego State
21. Baylor
22. Wisconsin
23. West Virginia
24. Stanford
25. New Mexico
Thorburn’s preseason All-Americans
Doug McDermott, Creighton
Phil Pressey, Missouri
Jamaal Franklin, SDSU
Cody Zeller, Indiana
Nerlens Noel, Kentucky
The 2012-13 preseason Associated Press poll:
1. Indiana
2. Louisville
3. Kentucky
4. Ohio State
5. Michigan
6. North Carolina State
7. Kansas
8. Duke
9. Syracuse
10. Florida
11. North Carolina
12. Arizona
13. UCLA
14. Michigan State
15. Missouri
16. Creighton
17. Memphis
18. UNLV
19. Baylor
20. San Diego State
21. Gonzaga
22. Notre Dame
23. Wisconsin
24. Cincinnati
25. Florida State
