UNDATED (AP) — South Carolina is ranked No. 1 in The Associated Press preseason Top 25 women's basketball poll. The Gamecocks received 23 first-place votes from a 31-member national media panel. UConn, Southern California, Duke and Michigan round out the top five. This marks the fifth time in seven years that Staley's team has been ranked No. 1 in the preseason. South Carolina will face five ranked teams in the first month, including UConn, USC and Duke. UConn, which lost to South Carolina in the Final Four last season, garnered six first-place votes. USC picked up the other two.
UNDATED (AP) — Florida starts the men's college basketball season ranked No. 1 in the preseason AP Top 25. Coach Todd Golden says the ranking is expected, as the team aims for another national championship. Duke and Illinois are next while UConn and Arizona round out the top five. Michigan State, Texas, Tennessee, Virginia and Houston finish out the top 10,
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Auburn standout linebacker Xavier Atkins is no longer with the program. Atkins made the announcement late Monday on social media, saying he plans to enter the transfer portal when it opens later this year. The Tigers have since removed Atkins from their online roster. Atkins sat out last week’s upset of then-No. 1 Georgia for undisclosed reasons, with coach Alex Golesh saying he would keep the details “in house.” In five games this season, Atkins has 37 tackles, including three sacks, and an interception.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Arch Manning remains the starting quarterback for No. 19 Texas despite his struggles in consecutive losses. Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian said he wants to see a “better version” of Manning this week when the Longhorns play No. 7 Mississippi at home. Manning and the Texas offense have struggled in a two-game losing skid that knocked Texas from No. 1. Manning's top backup is sophomore KJ Lacey, who has played in only two career games.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Alabama receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams’ availability is uncertain for the 13th-ranked Crimson Tide’s home game against Texas A&M on Saturday. Coach Kalen DeBoer says Coleman-Williams will be reevaluated as the week progresses. ESPN reported Saturday that the junior underwent arthroscopic knee surgery after dealing with a meniscus injury for three weeks. Coleman-Williams also sustained a concussion in Alabama’s 20-17 loss to Georgia on Oct. 10 and did not play in a 26-10 loss at Tennessee last weekend. Alabama has an open week after hosting the Aggies, which would give Coleman-Williams extra time to recover if he sits out a second consecutive game.
