Cardinals Ranked Fifth in AP Preseason Poll
October 31, 2018 | Women's Basketball
Louisville matches highest preseason mark in program history
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Following a historic Final Four season, the University of Louisville women's basketball team has been ranked fifth in the Associated Press 2018-19 preseason poll.
The Cardinals were listed on all 31 ballots, receiving 664 points, including one third-place vote. The ranking is tied for the highest preseason position in program history. The Cards were previously slotted fifth before both the 2013-14 and 2016-17 seasons.
Defending national champion Notre Dame was named the unanimous preseason favorite, with Connecticut, Oregon and Baylor rounding out the top five alongside Louisville. The Fighting Irish and Huskies are among seven ranked opponents on the Cardinals' schedule, including No. 17 NC State, No. 18 Syracuse, No. 21 Duke, No. 23 Arizona State and No. 25 Miami (Fla.). An additional six opponents received votes in the poll, including Central Michigan, Nebraska and Florida State.
The Cardinals open the 2018-19 season on Tuesday, Nov. 6 with a road game at Western Kentucky at 8 p.m. Their home opener will be against Miami (Ohio) on Monday, Nov. 26 at 7 p.m. at the KFC Yum! Center.
AP PRESEASON POLL
(First place votes in parentheses)
Louisville opponents in italics
1. Notre Dame (31)
2. Connecticut
3. Oregon
4. Baylor
5. Louisville
6. Mississippi State
7. Stanford
8. Oregon State
9. Maryland
10. South Carolina
T11. Tennessee
111. Texas
13. Iowa
14. Georgia
15. DePaul
16. Missouri
17. NC State
18. Syracuse
19. Marquette
20. Texas A&M
21. Duke
22. USF
23. Arizona State
24. California
25. Miami (Fla.)
The Cardinals were listed on all 31 ballots, receiving 664 points, including one third-place vote. The ranking is tied for the highest preseason position in program history. The Cards were previously slotted fifth before both the 2013-14 and 2016-17 seasons.
Defending national champion Notre Dame was named the unanimous preseason favorite, with Connecticut, Oregon and Baylor rounding out the top five alongside Louisville. The Fighting Irish and Huskies are among seven ranked opponents on the Cardinals' schedule, including No. 17 NC State, No. 18 Syracuse, No. 21 Duke, No. 23 Arizona State and No. 25 Miami (Fla.). An additional six opponents received votes in the poll, including Central Michigan, Nebraska and Florida State.
The Cardinals open the 2018-19 season on Tuesday, Nov. 6 with a road game at Western Kentucky at 8 p.m. Their home opener will be against Miami (Ohio) on Monday, Nov. 26 at 7 p.m. at the KFC Yum! Center.
AP PRESEASON POLL
(First place votes in parentheses)
Louisville opponents in italics
1. Notre Dame (31)
2. Connecticut
3. Oregon
4. Baylor
5. Louisville
6. Mississippi State
7. Stanford
8. Oregon State
9. Maryland
10. South Carolina
T11. Tennessee
111. Texas
13. Iowa
14. Georgia
15. DePaul
16. Missouri
17. NC State
18. Syracuse
19. Marquette
20. Texas A&M
21. Duke
22. USF
23. Arizona State
24. California
25. Miami (Fla.)
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