MUST BE DREAMING: TEMPLE IS 9-2?
Villanova, which a week ago was picked to finish first in the Big East, is ranked fifth in the preseason Associated Press (media) Top 25.
The Wildcats are No. 6 in the ESPN/USA Today (coaches) vote.
Kansas, which plays at Temple on Jan. 2, was first in both polls.
The last time the Wildcats were ranked this high to begin a season was 2005, when they were also fifth. Five months later they lost in the Final Eight to eventual national champion Florida.
The highest 'Nova has ever been ranked in the preseason was 1995, when it started at No. 3. That team would lose in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Drexel men’s basketball team has been picked to finish seventh in the Colonial Athletic Association’s preseason poll it was announced today at the league’s media day in Washington.
The Drexel women’s team has been picked to finish first and 2009 league player of the year Gabriela Marginean was picked as preseason player of the year.
The polls are voted on by league’s coaches, sports information directors and media.
Old Dominion is the pick to win the men’s title. ODU was 25-10 last year and returns all five starters.
Northeastern was picked second and defending champion Virginia Commonwealth third. They are followed by:
4. George Mason
5. James Madison
6. Hofstra
7. Drexel
8. Georgia State
9. Towson
10. William and Mary
11. Delaware
12. UNC Wilmington
ODU center Gerald Lee and Hofstra guard Charles Jenkins were picked co-preseason players of the year.
Drexel’s women won their CAA title last year and are the favorite again. Drexel returns eight letterwinners from last year’s 24-9 team. Marginean averaged 23.3 points and 7.4 rebounds last season for the Dragons.
Here is the women's predicted order of finish:
1. Drexel
2. James Madison
3. ODU
4. Delaware
5. VCU
6. Towson
7. Hofstra
8. UNC Wilmington
9. Willian & Mary
10. Northeastern
11. Georgia State
12. George Mason.
Delaware will welcome former Connecticut recruit Elena Delle Donne, who was highly recruited as a high school player at Ursuline Academy in Wilmington.
Philly is a hoops town and Phillyhoopsinsider.com provides complete coverage of the Big 5 and Drexel with news and commentary from the people inside the game and those who cover it. Look for regular contributions from the Daily News team of college hoops reporters and from many of Philly’s coaches.
FRAN DUNPHY, Temple
He begins his third season on North Broad with nearly 350 career victories after a long tenure at Penn. The Owls won the Atlantic 10 Tournament last season and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
BRUISER FLINT, Drexel
He begins his eighth season with the Dragons after returning to the city where he played collegiately at St. Joe’s. The Dragons have advanced to the postseason in four of the last six years and have won at least 17 games four times under Flint.
DR. JOHN GIANNINI, La Salle
He begins his fifth season at the school after successful tenures at the University of Maine and Rowan, where teams made two trips to the Division III Final Four. At LaSalle two seasons ago, he engineered an 18-win season and third-place finish in the Atlantic 10, the school’s best finish since joining the league for the 1995-96 season.
PHIL MARTELLI, Saint Joseph’s
He begins his 14th season on Hawk Hill, having won more than 250 games. He is a four-time Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year and has taken the Hawks to the postseason in seven of the last eight years.
GLEN MILLER, Penn
He begins his third season at the school after moving within the Ivy League from Brown. In his first season, he led the Quakers to an Ivy League championship and their third consecutive NCAA Tournament bid.
JAY WRIGHT, Villanova
He begins his eighth season at ‘Nova, having amassed 148 wins at the school. Villanova has made the NCAA Tournament for the last four seasons, including three trips to the Sweet 16 and an Elite Eight appearance. Wright came to Villanova following his tenure at Hofstra and has 270 career victories.
