Women's Basketball Team Picked To Win American Division
11/2/2000 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
DePaul was picked to win the American Division ahead of Marquette, Cincinnati and Charlotte. In the National Division, Tulane was named the favorite followed by UAB, Memphis and Southern Miss. The Green Wave was also chosen by the league's 12 coaches to win the Conference USA regular season title.
Williams, who earned second team all-league honors last season, set conference and school records with 94 three-pointers while averaging 18.3 points per game. She was joined the on 2000-01 preseason first team by Deanna Jackson (UAB), Janell Burse (Tulane), Tiffany Adkins (Memphis) and Tonya Phifer (Charlotte). Jackson was chosen as the league's Preseason Player of the Year.
Head coach Doug Bruno returns 11 players from last year's 18-12 team that advanced to the second round of the WNIT. The Blue Demons lost, 82-76, to eventual champion Wisconsin. DePaul also returns all five starters and over 90 percent of their offense from a year ago.
The Blue Demons, who open the season this Sunday with an exhibition game against the Chicago Challengers, are ranked 25th in the Women's Basketball Journal preseason poll.
2000-01 Preseason Coach's Poll
American Division
1. DePaul
2. Marquette
3. Cicinnati
4. Charlotte
5. Louisville
6. Saint Louis
National Division
1. Tulane
2. UAB
3. Memphis
4. Southern Miss
5. Houston
6. South Florida
Conference Champion
Tulane
Preseason All-Conference Team
Deanna Jackson - UAB
Jr., F, Brewton, Ala.
Janell Burse - Tulane
Sr., C, New Orleans, La.
Lenae Williams - DePaul
Jr., F, Addison, Ill.
Tiffany Adkins - Memphis
Sr., F, Newbern, Tenn.
Tonya Phifer - Charlotte
Jr., G, Charlotte, N.C.
Preseason Player of the Year
Deanna Jackson - UAB