University of Arizona men's basketball media day

Head coach Tommy Lloyd jokes with guard Courtney Ramey as the Wildcats take the court for their practice session following the University of Arizona men's basketball media day at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., October 11, 2022.

 Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star

After losing three starters to the NBA Draft, Arizona landed at No. 17 in the Associated Press preseason Top 25 poll.

The Wildcats were one of three Pac-12 teams in the poll, with UCLA ranked eighth and Oregon 21st. The Bruins, who are expected to become theΒ  preseason Pac-12 favorite, are scheduled to host Arizona in the regular-season finale for both teams on March 4.

Among UA's nonconference opponents, Tennessee (which will visit McKale Center on Dec. 17) was ranked No. 11 while four other Maui Invitational teams were ranked: Creighton at No. 9, Arkansas No. 10, San Diego State No. 19 and Texas Tech No. 25.

The Wildcats will open Maui Invitational play on Nov. 21 against unranked Cincinnati, but will face either San Diego State or Ohio State in their second game on Nov. 22. UA will face Creighton, Arkansas, Texas Tech or Louisville in its final game on Nov. 23.

Overall in the AP preseason poll, North Carolina was voted No. 1, followed by Gonzaga, Houston and Kentucky while Baylor and Kansas tied for fifth. Gonzaga and Arizona were ranked 1-2 in the final 2021-22 AP poll, which was taken after conference tournaments were played but before the NCAA Tournament began.

FWIW, I had the Wildcats at No. 13, UCLA at 8 and Oregon at 20. Here was the vote I submitted to the AP:

1. North Carolina

2. Gonzaga

3. Houston

4. Baylor

5. Kentucky

6. Kansas

7. Arkansas

8. UCLA

9. Duke

10. Creighton

11. Texas

12. Indiana

13. Arizona

14. Alabama

15. TCU

16. Virginia

17. Tennessee

18. Villanova

19. Michigan

20. Oregon

21. Auburn

22. Dayton

23. SDSU

24. Texas Tech

25. Wyoming

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Contact sports reporter Bruce Pascoe at bpascoe@tucson.com. On Twitter: @brucepascoe