WICHITA, Kan. – The nation's coaches foresee another big year for Wichita State basketball. The Shockers were tabbed No. 11 in the USATODAY Preseason Coaches Poll, released Thursday.

WSU collected 471 poll points, eight points back of No. 10 Texas. Last year's National Runner Up, Kentucky topped the list at 785 points. The Wildcats were one of four teams to gather first-place votes, collecting 24 of them. They're joined by No. 2 Arizona (3), No. 3 Duke (2) and No. 4 Wisconsin (3).

Several Shocker opponents (or potential opponents) popped up in the rankings, led by No. 21 Nebraska. WSU could meet the Huskers in the second round of the Diamond Head Classic on Dec. 23.

Two of WSU's early non-conference foes, Utah and Memphis, are high on the list of others receiving votes. Utah (26 points) and Memphis (25) are the equivalents of No. 30 and 31. Colorado and George Washington (two other potential Diamond Head Classic opponents were also included).

It's fifth time in school history that WSU will open a year with a number attached to its name. The Shockers began fifth in the 1963-64 UPI Coaches Poll and were No. 4 a year later (their highest starting position to date). The 1981-82 team opened at No. 7.

Last year's WSU team became the first in 30 years to crack the preseason rankings, checking in at No. 16 before climbing all the way to the No. 2 position at the close of the regular season.

The 1954-55 and 1983-84 teams were also highly regarded, but the Coaches Poll did not produce preseason rankings in either season. The Shockers were, however, ranked No. 20 and No. 18 respectively when the first regular season installments were released.

WSU (35-1, 18-0 Missouri Valley Conference in 2013-14) returns three starters and four of its top five scorers from a team that earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Head coach Gregg Marshall, the consensus National Coach of the Year, will again have the services of junior point guard Fred VanVleet (11.6 points, 5.4 assists) - the reigning Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year and a First Team Preseason All-American.

Junior guard Ron Baker (13.1 points, 3.8 rebounds), another First Team All-MVC selection last year, has also earned preseason All-America nods. He's joined by senior guard Tekele Cotton, the 2014 MVC Defensive Player of the Year, and Darius Carter, a member of the MVC's 2014 All-Bench Team.

2014-15 USATODAY Preseason Coaches Poll

1.     Kentucky (24)
2.     Arizona (3)
3.     Duke (2)
4.     Wisconsin (3)
5.     Kansas
6.     North Carolina
7.     Florida
8.     Virginia
9.     Louisville
10.  Texas
11. Wichita State
12.  Villanova
13.  Gonzaga
14.  Iowa State
15.  Connecticut
16.  VCU
17.  San Diego State
18.  Michigan State
19.  Oklahoma
20.  Ohio State
21.  Nebraska
22.  SMU
23.  Michigan
24.  Syracuse
25.  Iowa

Others Receiving Votes: Harvard 47; Stanford 47; Kansas State 37; Pittsburgh 36; Utah 26; Memphis 25; Minnesota 18; UCLA 15; New Mexico 11; Oregon 9; Louisiana Tech 8; Colorado 8; Arkansas 8; Dayton 6; Providence 5; Notre Dame 5; Massachusetts 4; Georgetown 4; Illinois 4; Texas-El Paso 4; Florida State 3; Baylor 2; George Washington 1; Miami (Fla.) 1; Toledo 1; Saint Mary's 1.

WSU in the Preseason Coaches Poll

-Wichita State-