Wake Forest Athletics
Women's Basketball Picked 9th In ACC Preseason Poll
10/26/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Oct. 26, 2010
GREENSBORO, NC - The Wake Forest women's basketball team was picked to finish ninth in the Atlantic Coast Conference this season by vote of the of the Blue Ribbon Panel, consisting of national and local media, as well as school representatives.
The Deacons are coming off an 18-14 campaign that saw them finish tied for fifth in the ACC and made a postseason appearance for the second-straight season.
Wake has exceeded expectations in each of the last two years however. The Deacs were picked to finish 12th in 2008-09 but went on to post the second-most wins in school-history (19-12) and finish tied for eighth in the ACC. Last season, Wake was predicted to finish 10th but instead went 7-7 in the conference, which was the second-best conference record in school-history, and finished tied for fifth.
This season, under seventh-year head coach Mike Petersen, the Deacons return four starters, ten letterwinners and 90 percent of its scoring.
Defending ACC champion Duke was picked to win the conference again with a total of 24 first place votes. North Carolina garnered the second-most first place votes with six followed by Florida State in third with two first place votes. Maryland coming in fourth and Georgia Tech rounded out the top-5. NC State earned the final first place vote and came in sixth.
The Preseason All-ACC Team is highlighted by Duke guard Jasmine Thomas, who enters her senior season having started 60 consecutive contests. Joining Thomas on the Preseason All-ACC team are Boston College senior center Carolyn Swords, Florida State senior guard Courtney Ward, Miami junior guard Shenise Johnson, and North Carolina senior forward Jessica Breland.
The ACC Newcomer Watch list, which replaces the Preseason Rookie of the Year honor, highlights freshmen, true and redshirt, and transfers that are expected to make an immediate impact in the league. This year's Watch List includes Boston College freshman guard Kristen Doherty, Duke freshman guard Chelsea Gray, Florida State freshman forward Natasha Howard, Duke freshman forward Richa Jackson, Maryland freshman guard Laurin Mincy, and Maryland freshman forward Alyssa Thomas.
The ACC preseason poll and the Watch Lists were announced as part of the ACC Women's Basketball Media Day at the Greensboro Coliseum. Head coach Mike Petersen along with senior Brittany Waters and junior Secily Ray met with members of the media.
The Deacons will open the 2010-11 season on Nov. 14, when they host NC Central at 2 pm in the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
2010-11 Predicted Order of Finish
(First Place Votes)
1. Duke (24)
2. North Carolina (6)
3. Florida State (2)
4. Maryland
5. Georgia Tech
6. NC State (1)
7. Boston College
8. Miami
9. Wake Forest
10. Virginia
11. Virginia Tech
12. Clemson
Preseason Player of the Year
Jasmine Thomas, Sr., G, Duke
2010-11 Preseason All-ACC Team
Jessica Breland, Sr., F, North Carolina
Shenise Johnson, Jr., G, Miami
Carolyn Swords, Sr., C, Boston College
Jasmine Thomas, Sr., G, Duke
Courtney Ward, Sr., G, Florida State
2010-11 Newcomer Watch List
Kristen Doherty, G/F, Fr., Boston College
Chelsea Gray, G, Fr., Duke
Natasha Howard, F, Fr., Florida State
Richa Jackson, F, Fr., Duke
Laurin Mincy, G, Fr., Maryland
Alyssa Thomas, F, Fr., Maryland
