WACO, Texas ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢' ¬" Baylor has been tabbed No. 21 in the 2015-16 USA Today Preseason Coaches' Poll, which was announced Thursday. This marks the ninth straight year the Bears have been ranked and the fourth time BU has been listed in the preseason coaches' poll.

BU received 145 points in preseason votes cast by 32 head coaches with one coach representing each of the 32 Division I conferences that receive NCAA Tournament automatic bids. Half of the 10 Big 12 Conference teams were ranked, with No. 5 Kansas, No. 7 Iowa State, No. 8 Oklahoma, No. 21 Baylor and No. 23 West Virginia. Texas was listed ninth among teams receiving votes outside of the top 25.

Baylor's No. 21 preseason coaches' poll ranking is the fourth-best in program history. BU was No. 12 prior to the 2011-12 season, No. 14 in the 2010-11 preseason and No. 18 before the 2012-13 season. The Bears also missed a top-25 preseason ranking by one vote in 2013-14.

Also on Thursday, Baylor announced that junior college transfer forward Jo Acuil will be held out for eight weeks while undergoing medical testing for a potential heart issue. No further information is available at this time.

Baylor opens the 2015-16 season on Nov. 13 when it hosts Stephen F. Austin at the Ferrell Center. That game will tip off at 8:30 p.m. CT and be televised on FOX Sports Southwest-Plus. Season tickets can be purchased by calling the Baylor Athletic Ticket Office at 254-710-1000 or online at www.BaylorBears.com/tickets.

USA Today Preseason Coaches' Poll
t1. Kentucky (11) ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢' ¬" 749
t1. North Carolina (12) ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢' ¬" 749
3. Maryland (5) ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢' ¬" 723
4. Duke (3) ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢' ¬" 686
5. Kansas (1) ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢' ¬" 675
6. Virginia ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢' ¬" 667
7. Iowa State ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢' ¬" 541
8. Oklahoma ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢' ¬" 520
9. Villanova ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢' ¬" 498
10. Arizona ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢' ¬" 477
11. Gonzaga ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢' ¬" 468
12. Wichita State ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢' ¬" 461
13. Michigan State ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢' ¬" 386
14. California ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢' ¬" 350
15. Indiana ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢' ¬" 312
16. Utah ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢' ¬" 250
17. Wisconsin ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢' ¬" 181
18. Notre Dame ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢' ¬" 172
19. LSU ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢' ¬" 163
20. Vanderbilt ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢' ¬" 153
21. BAYLOR ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢' ¬" 145
22. Butler ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢' ¬" 132
23. West Virginia ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢' ¬" 125
t24. Purdue ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢' ¬" 110
t24. Connecticut ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢' ¬" 110

RV: Michigan 108; Louisville 93; Texas A&M 58; UCLA 48; Georgetown 45; Cincinnati 43; North Carolina State 36; Oregon 33; Texas 29; Xavier 25; Florida State 25; Miami (Fla.) 11; San Diego State 10; Iowa 8; Davidson 5; Boise State 5; Providence 5; Stephen F. Austin 2; Belmont 2; Ohio State 2; Tulsa 1; Dayton 1; Old Dominion 1; Marquette 1.

Baylor Preseason Rankings History
2010-11 ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢' ¬" 16th (AP), 14th (coaches)
2011-12 ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢' ¬" 12th (AP), 12th (coaches)
2012-13 ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢' ¬" 19th (AP), 18th (coaches)
2013-14 ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢' ¬" 25th (AP), RV-26th (coaches)
2015-16 ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢' ¬" 21st (coaches)