The University of Cincinnati is ranked No. 12 and crosstown rival Xavier is No. 17 in the Associated Press preseason Top 25 men's basketball Division I poll, released Wednesday.
UC returns its top three scorers in junior wing Jacob Evans and senior forwards Kyle Washington and Gary Clark. The Bearcats have been picked by American Athletic Conference coaches to win the league title.
UC last season went 30-6 and made the program's seventh consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, losing to UCLA in the second round.
XU last season went 24-14 and reached the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight.