The Gators took 47 of 59 first-place votes in the preseason AP poll, released October 19.
Duke is second with 10 votes. Illinois is third with two. Connecticut and Arizona round out the top five.
Florida last opened a season at No. 1 in 2007. That team won back-to-back national titles.
Four of five starters return from a team that went 16-2 in SEC play. Most contenders lost their stars to the NBA.
Thomas Haugh skipped the NBA draft and won SEC Preseason Player of the Year. Alex Condon and Naismith defender Rueben Chinyelu are back too.
"I don't feel as stressed going into the season," Golden said. "We have a good foundation built."
Florida opened last year at No. 3 and lost to Iowa in the second round as a No. 1 seed. Rankings alone win nothing.
Florida fell to Baylor in an exhibition, shooting just 4-for-29 from deep. Golden called it a learning moment.
The Gators open the real season against No. 14 Miami in Tampa. It is a top-15 rivalry game on day one.
Eight ranked teams await: No. 2 Duke, No. 7 Texas twice, No. 8 Tennessee, plus a Las Vegas tournament.
Sophomores CJ Ingram and Alex Lloyd say the only goal is winning. "I want to win," Lloyd said. "Whatever it takes."
The season ends at the Final Four in Detroit. Florida kept its core when rivals did not. Read the full story.
Get the full breakdown, key numbers, and what happens next.
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