Oct. 22, 2009
A. Berenato Big East Media Day Interview | J. Sims Big East Media Day Interview | P. Wilson Big East Media Day Interview | S. Sallard Big East Media Day Interview
PITTSBURGH -
For the second year in a row, the Pitt women's basketball team has been selected to finish fifth in a preseason poll voted on by Big East coaches. The ranking was released Thursday morning at the league's annual media day at ESPNZone.
Pitt's 167 points in the poll puts the Panthers just four points out of a three-way tie for third with Louisville and DePaul at 171. Connecticut ran away with all 15 first place votes (teams cannot vote for themselves) and totaled 225 points to lead the way. In second was Notre Dame with 210.
Rounding out the team voting was Rutgers in sixth (156), Syracuse in seventh (126), Georgetown in eighth (124), West Virginia at ninth (121), Marquette at 10th (111), USF in 11th (86), St. John's in 12th (84), Villanova at 13th (78), Seton Hall in 14th (33), Providence in 15th (31) and Cincinnati in 16th (26).
Despite last season's fifth place preseason selection, the Panthers went on to an outstanding season in which they concluded the conference schedule in third and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
Pitt opens the season Nov. 17 against North Florida at the Petersen Events Center. Game time is set for 11 a.m. for Pitt's first School Day. The first chance to see the Panthers in action, however, will be an exhibition game against Seton Hill on Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Petersen Events Center.
2009-10 Preseason BIG EAST Coaches' Poll
1. Connecticut (15) 225
2. Notre Dame (1) 210
3. DePaul 171
3. Louisville 171
5. Pitt 167
6. Rutgers 156
7. Syracuse 126
8. Georgetown 124
9. West Virginia 121
10. Marquette 111
11. USF 86
12. St. John's 84
13. Villanova 78
14. Seton Hall 33
15. Providence 31
16. Cincinnati 26
*First-place votes in parentheses
2009-10 Preseason Awards
Preseason Player of the Year
Maya Moore, Connecticut, Jr., F
Preseason Freshman of the Year
*Skylar Diggins, Notre Dame, G (South Bend, Ind.)
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team^
Ashley Barlow, Notre Dame, Sr., G
*Tina Charles, Connecticut, Sr., C
Keisha Hampton, DePaul, So., F
Tiffany Hayes, Connecticut, So., G
Nicole Michael, Syracuse, Sr., F
*Maya Moore, Connecticut, Jr., F
Deirdre Naughton, DePaul, Sr., G
Liz Repella, West Virginia, Jr., G
*Angel Robinson, Marquette, Jr., G
Kahla Roudebush, Cincinnati, Sr., G
Lindsay Schrader, Notre Dame, R-Sr., G
Da'Shena Stevens, St. John's, So., F
^ - an extra member has been added to the preseason team due to a tie in voting
Preseason All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention
Deseree' Byrd, Louisville, Jr., G
Kalana Greene, Connecticut, Sr., G
Brittany Ray, Rutgers, Sr., G
* - unanimous selections
