Nov. 5, 2008
NORMAL, Ill. -
The Illinois State women's basketball team continues to bring in preseason accolades. For the first time in program history, the Redbirds are receiving votes in both preseason national polls. ISU has seven votes in the Associated Press Top-25 poll and three votes in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, which were both released this week.
Illinois State was the unanimous choice to win the Missouri Valley Conference in the preseason poll released last week and was named the best non-BCS team in the country by ESPN.com last month.
ISU received votes in the AP poll for 17 weeks last season and was ranked. No.24 by the AP on Jan. 28. The Redbirds received seven votes in the final AP poll of the season. In the ESPN/USA Today poll, the Redbirds received votes for 11 weeks.
Connecticut is the unanimous No. 1 pick with all-but one first-place vote in both polls. ISU opens the season in the Preseason WNIT and five other WNIT participants are ranked: Oklahoma (4/7), North Carolina (6/4), Arizona State (17/18), Xavier (22/ARV), Liberty (ARV/ARV). DePaul, who ISU visits Nov. 28, also received votes in both preseason polls.
Illinois State opens the 2008-09 season at Tulane Nov. 14 at 7:05 p.m.
