NEWARK, Del. -- The University of Delaware women's basketball team,
which was ranked among the top 10 for the first time in school history
last season, will begin in that lofty position this year.
The Blue Hens, who were selected No. 11 in the Associated Press
Preseason Top 25 Poll announced Sunday, have been picked No. 10 in the
USA Today/ESPN Preseason Top 25 Coaches Poll released earlier this week.
The Blue Hens, who return all five starters from last year's squad that
went 31-2, captured their first Colonial Athletic Association Tournament
title, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament second round, will open the
season next Friday, Nov. 9, when they host Sam Houston State in the
opening round of the Pre-Season Women's National Invitation Tournament
(WNIT) at the Bob Carpenter Center. Delaware was ranked as high as No. 7
nationally in the final regular season Associated Press Top 25 media
poll a year ago.
Defending national champion Baylor was picked in the top spot of the USA
Today/ESPN Poll, followed by Connecticut, Duke, Stanford and Maryland.
Notre Dame, Kentucky, Penn State, Louisville and the Blue Hens rounded
out the top ten.
Delaware will take on two teams listed in the preseason poll this season
as the Blue Hens will host No. 5 ranked Maryland on Dec. 9 at the Bob
Carpenter Center and travel to No. 13 St. John's on Jan. 2. Saint
Bonaventure, which received six votes in the poll, visits the BCC on
Nov. 28 for a 7 p.m. showdown with the Blue Hens.
AGATE
USA Today Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll: 1. Baylor (31 1st
Place votes); 2. Connecticut; 3. Duke; 4. Stanford; 5. Maryland; 6.
Notre Dame; 7. Kentucky; 8. Penn State; 9. Louisville; 10. Delaware; 11.
Georgia; 12. Texas A&M; 13. St. John's; 14. Oklahoma; 15. California;
16. Tennessee; 17. Vanderbilt; 18. Purdue; 19. Nebraska; 20. Georgia
Tech; 21. Ohio State; 22. West Virginia; 23. Miami (Fla); 24. Oklahoma
State; T25. Kansas; T25. Green Bay.
Others receiving votes: DePaul 68, South Carolina 49, Gonzaga 43,
Georgetown 38, Iowa State 33, Rutgers 33, Middle Tennessee State 28,
Texas 20, LSU 11, UCLA 11, Michigan 7, Virginia 7, Saint Bonaventure 6,
Arkansas 4, Iowa 4, San Diego State 3, BYU 2, Syracuse 2, Marist 1.
