Blue Demons Picked First in C-USA Preseason Poll
10/25/2004 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
CHICAGO - After advancing to the second round of the 2004 NCAA Tournament, DePaul has been chosen by the 14 Conference USA women's basketball head coaches to win the 2004-05 regular season title. Khara Smith, who averaged 20.4 points and 11.7 rebounds per game last season, has been selected by the coaches as the C-USA Preseason Player of the Year.
"We're picked to win Conference USA and I like the idea of looking at that as a plus," said head coach Doug Bruno. "Obviously, it does mean you have a target on your back, but it is also a statement as to how the league respects the season that these players had a year ago. We take that pick and look at that as a challenge to make it happen.
DePaul hopes to capture its third straight 20-win season for the first time since posting three consecutive 20-win seasons from 1994-97. Smith was named one of the 2005 State Farm Wade Trophy preseason candidates and a preseason pick for the Wooden Award. She has also been named a preseason first team All-American by Lindy's magazine and a second teamer by Athlon Sports. Smith is currently ranked first in school history with a .605 career field goal percentage and 16th all-time with 1,061 points in her 66 career games.
Joining Khara Smith on the preseason All-Conference team is teammate and cousin Charlene Smith, who ranked in the top 20 of C-USA's field goal percentage, steals and scoring leaders last season. The senior guard needs only 11 points to reach 1,000 career collegiate points. A year ago, she averaged 17.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.
The Blue Demons return eight players from a 2003-04 squad that led the nation in scoring while posting a 23-7 record. DePaul returns their top three scorers in the two Smith’s and senior guard Jenni Dant, a third team All-Conference USA pick last season. Dant averaged 14.1 points with 88 steals and a .817 free throw percentage as a junior.
Joining the Smith’s on the preseason All-Conference USA team are a pair of sophomores and two seniors. Sophomore Jessica Dickson of USF was the 2004 C-USA Freshman of the Year while Louisville's Jazz Covington earned Freshman All-American honors. Two seniors round out the team with Houston’s Sancho Lyttle and TCU’s Sandora Irvin. Irvin and Lyttle are both on the preseason Wade Trophy list.
The Blue Demons are followed by TCU, Houston, Louisville and Marquette in the coaches poll. The Cardinals and Golden Eagles tied for fourth with Charlotte picked to finish sixth.
Following exhibition games on Nov. 4 and 13, the Blue Demons open the 2004-05 season with six consecutive home games. The annual Moran Realty Classic starts things off on Nov. 19-20 when DePaul welcomes Murray State, Massachusetts and Southern Cal to the DePaul Atheltic Center.
2004-05 Conference USA Preseason Awards
(as selected by the league's head coaches)
Preseason All-Conference Team
Jazz Covington, Lousiville
So., F, 6-2, Adel, Ga.
Jessica Dickson, USF
So., F, 5-11, Ocala, Fla.
Sandora Irvin, TCU
Sr., F, 6-4, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
Sancho Lyttle, Houston
Sr., F/C, 6-4, St. Vincent, British West Indies
Charlene Smith, DePaul
Sr., G/F, 5-8, Bellwood, Ill.
Khara Smith, DePaul
Jr., F, 6-2, Hillside, Ill.
Preseason Player of the Year
Khara Smith, DePaul
2004-05 Preseason Poll (1st place votes)
1. DePaul (11)
2. TCU (2)
3. Houston (1)
T4. Louisville
T4. Marquette
6. Charlotte
7. Memphis
8. USF
9. Cincinnati
10. East Carolina
11. Tulane
12. UAB
13. Southern Miss
14. Saint Louis