Cowbell Corner

Mississippi State Men Left Out of AP Top 25 Preseason Poll

The Bulldogs were the only SEC team to receive votes from the voters and not be ranked after back-to-back 21-win seasons
Taylor Hodges|
Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Chris Jans reacts against the Michigan State Spartans in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at the Spectrum Center.
Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Chris Jans reacts against the Michigan State Spartans in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at the Spectrum Center. | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

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Mississippi State Bulldogs

The SEC had 10 teams ranked in the AP Top 25 Men’s Basketball Poll, but none of them was Mississippi State.

The Bulldogs were left outside the Top 25, but did receive six votes making them the only SEC school to receive votes and not be ranked.

Mississippi State enters the upcoming season after posting back-to-back 21-win seasons and back-to-back NCAA Tournament bids for the first time in more than a decade. Last season, the Bulldogs won three times against AP Top 10 teams, including homes against No.5 Tennessee and No. 8 Auburn and then again beating the top-seeded Volunteers at the SEC Tournament.

In last season’s NCAA Tournament, Mississippi State lost 69-51 to Michigan State in the opening round. In 2022-23, the Bulldogs fell to Dayton 60-59 in the first round of the tournament.

Mississippi State opens the 2024-25 season against West Georgia on Nov. 4 at Humphrey Coliseum.

The following is the complete AP Top 25 Poll:

AP Top 25 Men’s College Basketball Poll

Rank. Team (First-Place Votes)

1.       Kansas (30)

2.       Alabama (14)

3.       UConn (11)

4.       Houston (4)

5.       Iowa State

6.       Gonzaga (1)

7.       Duke

8.       Baylor

9.       North Carolina

10.   Arizona

11.   Auburn

12.   Tennessee

13.   Texas A&M

14.   Purdue

15.   Creighton

16.   Arkansas

17.   Indiana

18.   Marquette

19.   Texas

20.   Cincinnati

21.   Florida

22.   UCLA

23.   Kentucky

24.   Ole Miss

24.   Rutgers

Others receiving votes:

Illinois 92, St. John's 91, Xavier 73, Texas Tech 58, Wake Forest 37, Kansas St 30, Michigan St. 29, Ohio St. 29, Michigan 19, BYU 14, Oregon 12, McNeese St. 11, Miami 11, Boise St. 9, Saint Louis 9, Clemson 9, Providence 9, Mississippi St. 6, VCU 6, Wisconsin 5, Saint Mary's 5, Louisville 4, UAB 4, Ark Little Rock 3, Grand Canyon 3, Arizona St 2, San Diego St. 2, Princeton 2, High Point 1, Maryland 1.

Read More Mississippi State Bulldogs On SI:

Watch: Georgia's Kirby Smart Shoves Opposing Quarterback in Game

Mississippi State vs. Georgia: What Went Wrong?

What Went Right? Mississippi State’s Comeback Falls Short vs Georgia

Mississippi State Football: Why Every Team Should Be on Upset Alert

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Taylor Hodges
TAYLOR HODGES

Award-winning sports editor, writer, columnist, and photographer with 15 years’ experience offering his opinion and insight about the sports world in Mississippi and Texas, but he was taken to Razorback pep rallies at Billy Bob's Texas in Fort Worth before he could walk. Taylor has covered all levels of sports, from small high schools in the Mississippi Delta to NFL games. Follow Taylor on Twitter and Facebook.

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