UConn unanimous No. 1 in preseason poll
Huskies had their 111-game win streak end at Final Four.
UConn is in a NEW YORK — familiar spot to start the season No. 1 in the poll.
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TheHuskieswere a unanimous choice in the top spot ofTheAssociatedPresswomen’s basketball preseasonpoll onThursday. It’s the 12th time in school history thatUConn has been No. 1 in the preseason poll, matchingTennessee for the most all-time.
“Being rankednumberone in the AP preseason poll is something we certainly do not take for granted but I think those are the expectations, internally and externally, as it relates to this program,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. “This is an honor and a testament to the hardwork of our players, but we all knowthatwhat really matters is where you finish the season and not necessarily where you are when the season starts.”
UConn also was the preseason No. 1 in 1995, ’99, 2000, ’01, ’03, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’13, ’14 and ’16. UConn has gone on to win the national championship in seven of those years it was preseason No. 1.
TheHuskies, whosawtheir 111-gamewinningstreakcome to an end in the Final Four last season, return four starters from that team and add a stellar freshman class to go along with two solid transfers.
The entire 32-member national media panel picked UConnfirst, marking the fifth time the team has been the lone choice atop the preseason poll.
Texas issecond— theLonghorns’ best ranking since the second poll of the 2004 season. That was also the last year that the Longhorns were ranked second in the preseason Top 25.
“We appreciate the national media recognizing the hard work and dedication of our players and coaching staff in recent years to return our program back to a place where we have the expectation to compete for championships,” Texas coach Karen Aston said.
Big 12 rival Baylor is third followed by defendingnational champion South Carolina and Ohio State.
Notre Dame, Mississippi State, UCLA, Louisville and Stanford round out the first 10.
Here are a few other tidbits fromthe preseason poll:
Ducks fly together: No. 11 Oregon is ranked in the preseason for the first time since 2000. The Ducks, whomade a run to the NCAA regional finalslastseason, returnmost of that team.
Going streaking: Tennessee is 14th in the poll and continued its run of being ranked in every preseason poll since missing the first one in 1976.
Tip-ins: No. 17Marquette earned its first ranking since 2011. ... Michigan is 24th and ranked in the preseason poll for the first time since 2001. ... Missouri is 16th and has its best ranking since the 1984 preseason poll of 1984 when the Tigers were 11th.
Conference breakdown: The Southeastern Conference and Pac-12 have five teams each in the Top 25. The ACC and Big 12 are next with four teams apiece. The Big Ten has a trio of teams while the American Athletic ConferenceandBigEasteach have two squads.