Hoosiers Ranked No. 1 In Coaches Poll

With four starters back - including National Player of the Year candidate Cody Zeller - Indiana is the choice heading into the 2012-13 college basketball season. The Hoosiers are ranked No. 1 in the preseason USA Today Coaches Poll which was released Wednesday.

IU received 21 of a possible 31 first place votes. Louisville and Kentucky split the remaining 10 first place votes with the Cardinals sliding into the No. 2 spot, followed by the Wildcats at No. 3. Big Ten rivals Ohio State and Michigan round out the top five.

The Hoosiers are coming off a Sweet 16 run in last season after finishing with a 27-9 record. IU opens its season November 9th at home against Bryant University.

Notre Dame will begin the season ranked as well - the Irish are slated 23rd in the first Coaches Poll. Notre Dame finished 22-12 a year ago, 13-5 in the Big East - good for third in the conference during the regular season. Their season came to an end in the second round of the NCAA Tournament - suffering a 67-63 loss to Xavier. The Irish open their season November 10th at home against Evansville.