Gators debut at No. 6

GAINESVILLE — The Florida Gators debuted at No. 6 in the Associated Press preseason top 25, released Monday.

The preseason ranking is the program’s highest since 2007 when the defending national champions opened No. 1. Coming of the first Final Four under former coach Billy Donovan, the 2001-02 Gators also opened the season at No. 6.

After a 20-16 finish and a second-round exit from the NCAA Tournament, coach Mike White overhauled his roster this offseason — just four players who saw the court last season remain — and appears to have few holes.

Virginia Tech graduate transfer Kerry Blackshear Jr., a 6-foot-11 post player from Orlando, gives UF the inside presence it has lacked. SEC media voted him to the preseason AllSEC first team as well as the league’s Player of the Year. A top-10 recruiting class features a pair of McDonald’s All-American guards in Scottie Lewis, a terrific perimeter defender and passer, and Tre Mann, a big-time scorer.

Point guard Andrew Nembhard, a preseason second-team pick, leads a trio of sophomores who played major roles last season. Shooting guard Noah Locke set a UF freshman record with 81 3-pointers while forward Keyontae Johnson recorded doubledoubles during three of the Gators’ final five games.

“We’ve got a ton of work to do,” White said last month during the team’s media day. “I don’t blame whoever is out there saying we’ve got a chance to be pretty good or so-and-so ranking has this in the preseason. It is what it is; we’ve got a pretty good roster. It’s a good problem to have.”

The Gators have opened the season ranked in the top 10 13 times, including twice under White, now in his fifth season in Gainesville. White’s 2017-18 team opened No. 8 and climbed as high as No. 5 but ended the season ranked No. 23.

UF hosts an exhibition game Oct. 29 against Lynn University. The Gators open the regular season Nov. 5 at home against North Florida.