The Associated Press voted the Orange to No. 9 in the 2012-13 preseason basketball poll.

SU was ranked No. 5 in last year’s preseason poll before spending much of the year as the No. 1 team in the country. Syracuse is one of four Big East teams in the Top 25. No. 2 Louisville tops the conference contingent receiving 20 first-place votes.

Ahead of SU’s last season in the Big East, the Orange is accompanied by two future ACC foes in North Carolina State at No. 6 and Duke at No. 8.

Jim Boeheim’s team begins his 37th season at the helm Nov. 9 against No. 20 San Diego State in the Battle of the Midway on the flight deck of the USS Midway in San Diego Harbor. SU’s exhibition season opens Nov. 1 hosting Pace at 7 p.m. in the Carrier Dome.