NEW YORK –Wichita State and Cincinnati both debuted in the USA Today Coaches Poll top 25 release on Thursday. The Shockers were tabbed No. 8 in the poll, while the Bearcats ranked 13^th.

On Monday, Cincinnati was narrowly voted the preseason favorite in the American Athletic Conference, collecting seven of 12 first-place votes to best Wichita State by a single point in the poll.

For Wichita State, the top-10 appearance marks the program’s highest preseason ranking in 36 years. Meanwhile, the No. 13 ranking is the Bearcats' highest preseason ranking in the USA Today poll since prior to the 1999-2000 campaign when UC was listed third.

With all five starters and their top-eight scorers back, the Shockers are a trendy choice heading into their inaugural year in the American Athletic Conference.

Cincinnati returns its top three scorers from last season's squad that won 30 games, posted an undefeated home record and earned its seventh consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.

WSU’s last preseason top-10 appearance in a Coaches Poll came prior to the 1981-82 season. That team – headlined by the junior tandem of Antoine Carr and Cliff Levingston and fresh of an Elite Eight appearance – checked in at No. 6 in the AP and No. 7 in the Coaches.

SMU, the defending American regular season and tournament champion, was among teams receiving votes in the poll. Not counting Wichita State and Cincinnati, American teams are could face as many as 10 teams in the preseason poll in non-conference play.

This year’s preseason AP Poll is due out on Nov. 1.