Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, October 17, 2013

The release of the USA Today coaches poll is another indicator of how close we are to beginning basketball season. I was not shocked to see five Big Ten teams ranked in the new poll: 2. Michigan State, 9. Michigan, 10. Ohio State, 21. Wisconsin and 24. Indiana.

I thought Michigan State could have merited being the No. 1 team in the nation. Alas, Kentucky got that honor. But the Spartans are loaded with the likes of Gary Harris and Adreian Payne. They didn?t bypass the NBA draft to finish second. And don?t forget about Branden Dawson. Here are a few more thoughts.

No problem with Michigan at No. 9. Just imagine in Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr., had come back. Heck, if anything, the Wolverines may be a bit underrated with Glenn Robinson III and Mitch McGary back along with a nice collection of newcomers, headed by Indiana Mr. Basketball Zak Irvin.

Coaches Rankings
Rankings as of 10/17/2013
Rank School Votes Prev Rank
1 Kentucky 0-0 767 (16) NR
2 Michigan State 0-0 749 (3) NR
3 Louisville 0-0 741 (10) NR
4 Duke 0-0 710 (3) NR
5 Arizona 0-0 637 NR
6 Kansas 0-0 623 NR
7 Syracuse 0-0 551 NR
8 Florida 0-0 550 NR
9 Michigan 0-0 548 NR
10 Ohio State 0-0 533 NR
11 North Carolina 0-0 494 NR
12 Oklahoma State 0-0 462 NR
13 Memphis 0-0 334 NR
14 Gonzaga 0-0 270 NR
15 VCU 0-0 258 NR
16 Wichita State 0-0 233 NR
17 Marquette 0-0 230 NR
18 Oregon 0-0 175 NR
19 Connecticut 0-0 167 NR
20 New Mexico 0-0 153 NR
21 Wisconsin 0-0 148 NR
22 Notre Dame 0-0 128 NR
23 UCLA 0-0 121 NR
24 Indiana 0-0 118 NR
25 Virginia 0-0 103 NR

Ohio State is fine at No. 10, even without Deshaun Thomas. LaQuinton Ross looks primed to be a star for a deep team that will play good defense. And Aaron Craft is back. Enough said.

[ MORE: Big Ten men's team rosters & team-by-team schedules.]

In some ways, I am a bit surprised to see Wisconsin in here. The Badgers annually seem to be underrated and ignored. And I thought that would happen again with massive frontcourt losses in Jared Berggren, Ryan Evans and Mike Bruesewitz. But, the coaches like Ben Brust, Sam Dekker and Co., and so do I. Remember: The Badgers have finished no worse than tied for fourth for 12 consecutive seasons.

My biggest beef: Where?s Iowa? The Hawkeyes finished fourth among ?others receiving votes,? which equates to a No. 29 ranking. (Illinois received two votes.) I think Iowa deserved to be in the poll, but I guess I can see where skepticism is warranted.

This is a program that hasn?t been to the Big Dance since 2006. Still, Iowa has five starters back led by Aaron White and Roy Devyn Marble. Plus, this is a hungry squad with something to prove.

No doubt, Indiana is getting a massive benefit of the doubt by appearing in this poll after losing four 1,000-point scorers. The stalwarts gone: Cody Zeller and Victor Oladipo. Yes, Indiana welcomes the most decorated collection of newcomers, led by Noah Vonleh. Still, Zeller and Oladipo were seasoned franchise players.

And the last time I saw Yogi Ferrell, he was getting blanked in the NCAA tourney by Temple and then Syracuse. I think IU has some growing pains in the early going. No way this team should be ranked and Iowa isn?t.

***

About Tom Dienhart BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart is a veteran sports journalist who covers Big Ten football and men's basketball for BTN.com and BTN TV. Find him on Twitter and Facebook, read all of his work at btn.com/tomdienhart, and subscribe to his posts via RSS. Also, send questions to his weekly mailbag using the form below and read all of his previous answers in his reader mailbag section.

And if you want to leave a comment on this post, use the box below. All comments need to be approved by a moderator.