USA TODAY Top 25 Coaches' Poll

No. 2: Louisville. Points: 738 (5). Previous ranking: 4. Outlook: After surprising run to Final Four, Cardinals should again be in thick of things with return of G Peyton Siva (pictured), Fs Chane Behanan and Stephan Van Treese (out most of last year), and C Gorgui Dieng. Transfer of former George Mason F Luke Hancock should pay immediate dividends.

No. 3: Kentucky. Points: 718 (5). Previous ranking: 1. Outlook: Defending national champ will look much different team, but a lot depends on the eligibility status of freshman post Nerlens Noel (pictured), considered by many to be the nation’s top recruit. Wildcats hoping he can replace departed Anthony Davis, now off to NBA. Freshmen jumping into fray include wings Archie Goodwin and Alex Poythress. Former North Carolina State point guard Ryan Harrow joins backcourt, and Kyle Wiltjer returns at forward.

No. 4 : Ohio State. Points: 617. Previous ranking: 3. Outlook: After trip to Final Four, Buckeyes said farewell to stars Jared Sullinger and William Buford, but they again should be right in Big Ten race with return of Gs Aaron Craft and Lenzelle Smith Jr., Fs Deshaun Thomas (pictured), Sam Thompson and LaQuinton Ross and C Amir Williams.

No. 5: Michigan. Points: 605. Previous ranking: 22. Outlook: Wolverines should continue to ascend in Big Ten with Gs Trey Burke (pictured) and Tim Hardaway Jr. They’ll be joined by what looks like a top-notch recruiting class, featuring Fs Glenn Robinson III and Mitch McGary and G Nik Stauskas.

No. 6: North Carolina State. Points: 581. Previous ranking: 20. Outlook: After encouraging run to Sweet 16, Wolfpack expect to be in Atlantic Coast Conference race with return of Fs C.J. Leslie and Richard Howell, G Lorenzo Brown and wing Scott Wood. Freshman G Rodney Purvis should have immediate impact.

No. 7: Kansas. Points: 563. Previous ranking: 2. Outlook: With Thomas Robinson and Tyshawn Taylor gone after last season’s trip to title game, Jayhawks will likely count on C Jeff Withey (Kansas) along with Gs Elijah Johnson and Travis Releford and Fs Kevin Young and Justin Wesley. Big things are expected from freshman F Perry Ellis.

No. 8: Duke. Points: 516. Previous ranking: 14. Outlook: G Austin Rivers is in NBA, but Mason Plumlee returns up front with F Ryan Kelly and Gs Seth Curry, Quinn Cook and Tyler Thornton. However, G Andre Dawkins is redshirting for personal reasons. That likely will mean more time for freshman Rasheed Sulaimon, who figured to make his presence felt, anyway.

No. 9: Syracuse. Points: 502. Previous ranking: 5. Outlook: Orange, who have one more year in Big East before heading for ACC, lost some key personnel from Elite Eight team. But plenty of talent returns, including Gs Brandon Triche and Michael Carter-Williams (pictured), Fs C.J. Fair, Rakeem Christmas and James Southerland, and C Baye Keita.

No. 10: Florida. Points: 422. Previous ranking: 9. Outlook: Gators nearly made Final Four last season but lost starters Bradley Beal and Erving Walker. They should again contend in the SEC, however, with backcourt of Kenny Boynton (pictured), Mike Rosario and Scottie Wilbekin. Freshman point guard Braxton Ogbueze looks to contribute.

No. 11: Arizona. Points: 411. Previous ranking: not ranked. Outlook: Former Xavier G Mark Lyons joins backcourt and adds to one of the nation’s top recruiting classes, which includes 7-foot C Kaleb Tarczewski, Fs Brandon Ashley and Grant Jerrett and G Gabe York. Wing Kevin Parrom, injured much of last season, and solid F Solomon Hill (pictured) are back, and Wildcats should make presence felt in Pac-12.

No. 12: North Carolina. Points: 401. Previous ranking: 6. Outlook: After offseason health scare for coach Roy Williams, Tar Heels will face retooling on the floor. Returning are Gs Dexter Strickland (pictured) and Leslie McDonald, both coming back from knee injuries, along with Gs P.J. Hairston and Reggie Bullock. F James Michael McAdoo is also back.

No. 13: UCLA. Points: 396. Previous ranking: not ranked. Outlook: Questions surround eligibility of incoming wings Shabazz Muhammad and Kyle Anderson, two of the top recruits in the nation. But Bruins have one of the game’s top recruiting classes, including G Jordan Adams and F Tony Parker. Bruins return Fs David Wear (pictured) and Travis Wear, G Tyler Lamb (who had minor knee surgery last week) and C Joshua Smith.

No. 14: Michigan State. Points: 391. Previous ranking: 7. Outlook: Stalwart Draymond Green has departed, but the Spartans have high expectations with return of Gs Keith Appling (pictured) and Travis Trice and addition of freshman G Gary Harris. Wing Branden Dawson is one to watch along with returning Cs Derrick Nix and Adreian Payne.

No. 15: Creighton. Points: 325. Previous ranking: 21. Outlook: Bluejays could be class of Missouri Valley Conference and make another run at NCAA berth with return of All-America F Doug McDermott (pictured) along with C Gregory Echenique, G Jahenns Manigat and Grant Gibbs and F Ethan Wragge.

No. 16: Memphis. Points: 307. Previous ranking: not ranked. Outlook: Tigers will soon be heading for Big East, but in meantime they have couple of top-notch guards in Joe Jackson and Chris Crawford along with wing Adonis Thomas (pictured).

No. 17: Missouri. Points: 289. Previous ranking: 11. Outlook: After early NCAA ouster last year, Tigers will have a different look, thanks to an influx of transfers. Ex-Connecticut F Alex Oriakhi should help form solid frontcourt with returning F Laurence Bowers. Gs Phil Pressey and Michael Dixon also are back.

No. 18: Baylor. Points: 266. Previous ranking: 8. Outlook: With departures of Perry Jones, Quincy Acy and Quincy Miller, Bears will look different but should still be a factor in Big 12 behind standout point guard Pierre Jackson and fellow Gs Brady Heslip and Deuce Bello. F Cory Jefferson is back, and freshmen Ricardo Gathers and 7-1 Isaiah Austin add heft to the frontcourt.

No. 19: UNLV. Points: 203. Previous ranking: not ranked. Outlook: Leading scorer Mike Moser returns up front with Gs Anthony Marshall (pictured) and Justin Hawkins and Fs Carlos Lopez and Quintrell Thomas. There are also some intriguing newcomers, including freshman G Katin Reinhardt, G Bryce Jones (a Southern California transfer), Pitt transfer Khem Birch at forward and freshman F Anthony Bennett.

No. 20: San Diego State. Points: 196. Previous ranking: not ranked. Outlook: Guard-oriented Aztecs welcome back some stellar backcourt players in Jamaal Franklin, Chase Tapley (pictured with LaBradford Franklin), Xavier Thames and James Rahon. Freshman F Winston Shepard should help out inside right away.

No. 21: Wisconsin. Points: 191. Previous ranking: 12. Outlook: Standout G Jordan Taylor is gone, but almost every other key element returns from a team that came within a field goal of Elite Eight. Josh Gasser and Ben Brust are experienced backcourt, and Jared Berggren should continue to develop into one of Big Ten’s better big men.

No. 22: Gonzaga. Points: 166. Previous ranking: not ranked. Outlook: Bulldogs should again be battling for West Coast Conference supremacy and ticket to the NCAAs with the return of top-notch backcourt in Kevin Pangos, Gary Bell Jr. and David Stockton, along with F Elias Harris (pictured) and C Sam Dower.

No. 23: Notre Dame. Points: 122. Previous ranking: not ranked. Outlook: Irish will soon be headed for ACC, but in the meantime, they should be among Big East’s best with the return of Gs Scott Martin, Eric Atkins and Jerian Grant (pictured) along with wing Pat Connaughton and F Jack Cooley.

No. 24(t): Florida State. Points: 61. Previous ranking: 15. Outlook: G Michael Snaer (pictured) only regular starter returning from last season’s ACC tournament-winning team, but there is some experience back in G Ian Miller and Fs Okaro White and Terrance Shannon, who missed most of last year with shoulder injury.