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Pitt Men's Basketball Ranked No. 4 In Preseason Coaches Poll

PITTSBURGH—The Pitt basketball team will open its 2010-11 season ranked No. 4 in the preseason USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll, the publication announced Thursday afternoon. The USA Today/ESPN poll is voted upon by 31 NCAA Division I head coaches.

For the fifth time in school history and fourth time in the last seven years, Pitt will enter a season ranked among the nation's top-5 in at least one poll. The No. 4 ranking ties for the program's second highest preseason national rating. Pitt entered the 1987-88 season rated No. 3 in the USA Today/CNN poll.

Defending national champion Duke earned the nation's No. 1 ranking, followed by No. 2 Michigan State, No. 3 Kansas State, No. 4 Pitt and No. 5 Ohio State. With its No. 4 ranking and 621 total points, Pitt is one of four Big East programs ranked among the nation's top-25 including No.6 Villanova, No. 13 Syracuse and No. 21 Georgetown.

For the fifth time in the last six seasons and 10th time in school history, Pitt will enter a season ranked among the nation's top-25.

On Wednesday, Pitt was picked by Big East coaches as the league's preseason favorite at its annual media day. Junior Ashton Gibbs was selected to the preseason All-Big East First Team.

Tomorrow evening, fans will get their first glimpse of the 2010-11 Pitt Basketball team when it hosts its annual Blue-Gold Scrimmage at the Petersen Events Center. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. Seating is general admission and fans are urged to move close to the court. Parking is available for $5.00 in the OC Lot.

Pitt's first exhibition game is on Sunday, Oct. 31 against Northwood University, Fla. Tipoff is at 2 p.m.

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