The Iowa men’s basketball team is ranked No. 5 in the country in the preseason Associated Press poll that was released on Monday.

This marks the first season Iowa is ranked in the preseason in Fran McCaffery’s 11-year run as head coach and the No. 5 spot is the highest preseason ranking for the program in 65 years. Iowa was ranked No. 4 in the country heading into the 1955-56 season.

The Hawkeyes are ranked in the preseason poll for the first time since they were ranked No. 20 prior to the 2005-06 season.

The No. 5 ranking is the highest Iowa has been ranked in the AP poll since it was No. 4 the week of Feb. 15, 2016. It is the program’s highest preseason ranking since 1988-89, when the Hawkeyes entered the season at No. 7 in the country.

All-American and reigning Big Ten Player of the Year Luka Garza will lead Iowa this season. Garza is part of a loaded rotation that also includes Joe Wieskamp, Jordan Bohannon, C.J. Fredrick, Connor McCaffery, and several other experienced players.

Gonzaga is the top team in the preseason AP poll. Iowa is scheduled to play Gonzaga on Dec. 19 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Below is the entire preseason top-25.

AP men’s basketball 2020-21 preseason poll

1. Gonzaga

2. Baylor

3. Villanova

4. Virginia

5. Iowa

6. Kansas

7. Wisconsin

8. Illinois

9. Duke

10. Kentucky

11. Creighton

12. Tennessee

13. Michigan State

14. Texas Tech

15. West Virginia

16. North Carolina

17. Houston

18. Arizona State

19. Texas

20. Oregon

21. Florida State

22. UCLA

23. Ohio State

24. Rutgers

25. Michigan