In this file photo from Oct. 15, 2014, Kansas head coach Bill Self talks about his team during a Big 12 Conference Media Day event at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.

The loss of one-and-done sensations Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid to the NBA hasn’t caused a drop in expectations for Kansas University’s basketball team.

KU, which added a stellar recruiting class of Cliff Alexander, Devonté Graham, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk and Kelly Oubre Jr., to a (25-10, Big 12 title) team that returns starters Perry Ellis and Wayne Selden Jr., on Thursday was ranked No. 5 in the country in USA Today’s preseason Top 25 coaches poll.

Kentucky was No. 1, followed by Arizona, Duke, Wisconsin, KU, North Carolina, Florida, Virginia, Louisville, Texas, Wichita State, Villanova, Gonzaga, Iowa State, UConn, VCU, San Diego State, Michigan State, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Nebraska, SMU, Michigan, Syracuse and Iowa.

“I am a little surprised it’s that high, but we’ll take it,” KU coach Bill Self said after Thursday’s practice, which he called the best of the preseason to date. “It doesn’t mean anything but it makes a good recruiting mailout so we’ll take it. Obviously we’ve got a ways to go before we play to that ranking. Hopefully potentially we can if things fall right,” he added.

Texas checked in at No. 10, Iowa State 14 and Oklahoma 19. Kansas State and Baylor both received votes, the Wildcats missing the Top 25 by just three slots.

“Having four teams in the Top 20 and a couple more are probably knocking on the door. I think our league is well represented,” Self said of the Big 12.

Roy and Larry ranked, coming to town: Roy Williams’ North Carolina Tar Heels and Larry Brown’s SMU Mustangs were ranked Nos. 6 and 22 in the preseason USA Today poll. They and former KU coach Ted Owens will gather with Self in Allen Fieldhouse on Oct. 27 for “Celebrating 60 Years,” an event that honors the 60th birthday of KU’s building.

“There are four living coaches that have coached here which is amazing. Dick Harp is the only other who coached in Allen Fieldhouse,” Self said. “It’s a pretty cool deal to think 51 of the 60 years are coming back for one night. I’ll be surprised if we don’t have 7,000 people at it,” added Self who hopes the ticket sales total of 4,500 will skyrocket in coming days, since it’s been confirmed there’s no World Series game that night. All net proceeds to go to the charities of the four coaches. ESPN’s Jay Bilas is emcee.

Embiid’s brother dies: Joel Embiid’s younger brother, Arthur, died Thursday in Africa, the Philadelphia Sixers announced. The cause of death and age of Arthur both were not available. Sixers coach Brett Brown, general manager Sam Hinkie and forward Luc Mbah a Moute — Embiid’s mentor from Embiid’s homeland of Cameroon — skipped the team’s exhibition game Thursday to be with Embiid at his home in Philadelphia. Joel, 20, is the oldest of three children born to Thomas and Christine Embiid.

Recruiting: Four recruits who attended last week’s Late Night in the Phog head to Kentucky today for “Big Blue Madness.” They are: Rivals.com’s No. 2-ranked Jaylen Brown, No. 10 Stephen Zimmerman, No. 14 Carlton Bragg and No. 18 Brandon Ingram.

Seven-footer Zimmerman’s mom, Lori, tells Zagsblog.com she’s expecting an amazing event.

“The only phrase that I can think of is ‘Over the Top,”’ Lori told Zagsblog. “Coach Cal (John Calipari) promised us it’s just over the top and the fans are over the top. So, I guess I kind of expect the super experience.”

Lori told Zagsblog that on the trip to KU she was “impressed” that during a lunch, Self wasn’t critical of Calipari’s NBA combine, which played on a TV at the restaurant.

“He even mentioned he saw why they would possibly do it, it just wasn’t his thing,” Lori said.