DePaul University Athletics
DePaul Picked to Finish Second
10/22/2003 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
CHICAGO – The DePaul women’s basketball team has been picked second by Conference USA’s 14 head coaches while junior Jenni Dant was one of five players named to the preseason All-Conference USA team. Defending C-USA Tournament champion TCU is the early-on favorite to win the regular-season title.
Dant makes her first appearance on the preseason five after earning second team All-CUSA honors last season. Preseason Player of the Year Chandi Jones of Houston leads the squad and is joined by Valerie King and Debbie Merrill of Cincinnati, and TCU’s Sandora Irvin. Dant led DePaul last season in scoring, steals, free throws and minutes played.
Following TCU and DePaul are Cincinnati, Charlotte and Houston. A year ago, Charlotte won the regular-season championship and was one of five league programs to make the NCAA Tournament. For just the second time in league history, C-USA sent five teams to March Madness with Charlotte, Cincinnati, DePaul, TCU and Tulane making appearances.
The Blue Demons return nine players from last year’s 22-10 team that advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Among the nine returners, who accounted for 84 percent of the scoring, are four that averaged double-figures. Dant led all scorers with 14.4 points per game while C-USA Freshman of the Year Khara Smith averaged 13.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per contest. Charlene Smith chipped in 11.7 points per game while Ashley Luke tallied 11 points per game. Doug Bruno’s club is ranked No. 18 in the country in the Athlon Sports magazine preseason Top 25.
DePaul opens the regular season with Moran Realty Classic on Nov. 21-22 at the DePaul Athletic Center. Northwestern State and Ball State kick off the action Friday at 6 p.m. followed by DePaul and UW-Milwaukee at 8 p.m. Saturday’s action includes the consolation game at 6 p.m. and the championship game at 8 p.m.
A pair of exhibition games get the Blue Demons ready for the regular season on Nov. 12 and Nov. 15. DePaul hosts the Netherlands National Team on the 12th at 7 p.m. The Chicago Challengers come to the DePaul Athletic Center on the 15th at 6 p.m. in the first game of a men’s and women’s doubleheader. For ticket information, call (773) 325-SLAM.
2003-04 Preseason All-Conference USA team
*Chandi Jones, Sr., G/F, Houston
Jenni Dant, Jr., G/F, DePaul
Sandora Irvin, Jr., F, TCU
Valerie King, Sr., G, Cincinnati
Debbie Merrill, Jr., C, Cincinnati
*Preseason Player of the Year
2003-04 Preseason Poll
1. TCU
2. DePaul
3. Cincinnati
4. Charlotte
5. Houston
6. Tulane
7. Louisville
8. Marquette
9. Memphis
10. Saint Louis
11. East Carolina
12. Southern Miss
13. UAB
14. USF
