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Conference Unveils Preseason Selections
Oct. 18, 2012
NEW YORK, N.Y. – On Thursday morning at the BIG EAST Conference’s annual media day, the league revealed its 2012-13 preseason picks. DePaul senior guard Anna Martin, an Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American last season, was chosen as a unanimous Preseason All-BIG EAST Team selection while the Blue Demons were picked to finish sixth in the conference. Connecticut, the 2012 BIG EAST Championship tournament winner, was picked to win the 2012-13 BIG EAST women’s basketball regular-season title. The selection was made by the league’s 15 head coaches, who were not permitted to select their own teams. The Huskies, who received 12 first-place votes, edged last year’s regular-season champion, Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish received three first-place votes and were picked to finish second. Louisville was selected to finish third, with St. John’s picked fourth and Rutgers rounding out the top five. DePaul was slotted sixth, while Syracuse and Georgetown were separated by only one point in seventh and eighth, respectively. The Hoyas were followed by USF, Villanova and Marquette in ninth, 10th and 11th. Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Seton Hall and Providence followed the Golden Eagles, with the Panthers and Pirates tied for 13th. DePaul returns six of the seven players from last year’s team, including Preseason All-BIG EAST unanimous selection Martin. Martin led the league in scoring in 2011-12 at 19.1 ppg and finished the season with 648 points, which ranks 10th on DePaul’s all-time single-season list. The Blue Demons finished eighth last year after posting a 23-11 overall record and reaching the second round of the NCAA Championship. Last season, Martin was named an Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American and a regional finalist for the State/Farm WBCA All-American team. She was added to the Midseason Wade Watch List as well as the Naismith Midseason Player of the Year Watch List. A unanimous All-BIG EAST First Team selection after earning BIG EAST Conference Weekly Honor Roll Honors in eight of the league's 15 honor rolls, Martin led the BIG EAST in scoring with 19.1 points per game, which ranked 25th nationally.
2012-13 Preseason Coaches Poll 1. Connecticut (12) - 194 2. Notre Dame (3) - 182 3. Louisville - 167 4. St. John’s - 144 5. Rutgers - 143 6. DePaul - 138 7. Syracuse - 105 8. Georgetown - 104 9. USF - 97 10. Villanova - 78 11. Marquette - 75 12. Cincinnati - 61 13. Pittsburgh - 31 13. Seton Hall - 31 15. Providence - 25 First-place votes in parentheses Preseason Player of the Year |
