Blue Demons Ranked 18th in Preseason AP Poll
11/9/2005 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
National Polls
CHICAGO – Following a No. 19 slot in the preseason ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll, the DePaul women's basketball team is ranked 18th in the preseason Associated Press top 25. Duke edged Tennessee by five points as the preseason top-ranked team.
The Blue Demons finished last season at No. 17 in the final AP poll prior to the start of the NCAA Tournament. DePaul finished the year with a 26-5 record and return four starters and nine players this season.
Joining the Blue Demons from the BIG EAST are No. 5 Rutgers, No. 9 Connecticut and 15th-ranked Notre Dame.
DePaul concludes the exhibition portion of the schedule on Saturday against the Chicago Challengers. The team won their first exhibition game, 110-65, over Saint Xavier (Ill.) on Nov. 5. Tipoff with the Challengers is set for 6 p.m. with the final men's exhibition game to follow.
The regular season begins on Nov. 18 with the DePaul Invitational at the DePaul Athletic Center. Alabama State, Harvard and UNLV venture to Chicago for the two-day tourney.