Oct. 26, 2006
NEW YORK – The Notre Dame women’s basketball team has been predicted to finish 11th in the BIG EAST Conference this season, according to a preseason poll of the league’s head coaches. The poll, as well as the preseason all-conference team, were unveiled Thursday morning at the annual BIG EAST Women’s Basketball Media Day, held at the ESPN Zone in New York’s Times Square.
More than 100 media members, including representatives from several national media outlets such as ESPN and CSTV, were on hand to hear from each of the 16 BIG EAST head coaches, as well as conference commissioner Michael Tranghese. The BIG EAST is beginning its second year as a 16-team league in 2006-07, with 11 women’s basketball programs advancing to the postseason last year, highlighted by seven NCAA Tournament qualifiers.
Notre Dame was one of those 2006 NCAA Tournament participants, capping off an 18-12 season with its 11th consecutive trip to the “Big Dance” and the 13th in program history. The Irish have been one of the BIG EAST’s standard bearers ever since they joined the conference in 1995-96, placing among the top three in the league standings nine times in their first 11 years.
Connecticut was tabbed as the BIG EAST preseason favorite by the coaches, earning 11 of 16 first-place votes and 221 overall points. Second-place Rutgers picked up the remaining five No. 1 votes and was just six points back of the Huskies with 215 points. DePaul (179 points) edged out Louisville (176 points) for third place, with Pittsburgh rounding out the top five (152 points).
St. John’s was sixth (148 points), followed by South Florida with 136 points. Notre Dame was then among the group from places 8-11 that was separated by just 15 points — Marquette (123) led the way, outpacing West Virginia (117) and Villanova (110), with the Irish hot on their heels with 108 points.
Cincinnati was ranked 12th (82 points), with Georgetown right behind (57 points). Providence (45 points), Syracuse (30 points) and Seton Hall (21 points) completed this year’s preseason balloting.
South Florida forward Jessica Dickson earned the nod as BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year, while Connecticut center Tina Charles was designated the conference’s Preseason Freshman of the Year. Dickson also was one of three players who were unanimous preseason all-BIG EAST selections, with Louisville center Jazz Covington and St. John’s guard Kia Wright also garnered that distinction.
Notre Dame has scheduled an open practice for Saturday from 10 a.m.-noon (ET) in the main arena at the Joyce Center. This practice is open to Irish season-ticket holders and those interested in purchasing season tickets, with a post-practice autograph session scheduled on the upper concourse of the arena.
The Irish are just five days away from tipping off their 2006-07 season, as they entertain Lake Superior State on Oct. 31 at 7 p.m. (ET) inside the Joyce Center in the first of two exhibition games. After playing host to Northwood (Mich.) on Nov. 5 at 2 p.m., Notre Dame will open the regular season on Nov. 10 with a 4 p.m. contest against Central Michigan at the Joyce Center.
Fans wishing to purchase season tickets or individual ducats for the 18-game Irish women’s basketball home schedule should contact the Notre Dame Athletics Ticket Office at (574) 631-7356 or visit the ticket windows located on the second floor of the Joyce Center inside of Gate 1. In addition, tickets can be bought on-line through the Notre Dame athletics web site (www.und.com) by clicking on the “tickets” link found on the main page of the site.
— ND —