The latest polls from the Commonwealth have it trending blue — oops, not those polls. If you’re wondering how good your favorite team will be this season, don’t expect too many answers from the conference preseason polls that have been floating around in recent days.
Even most coaches will tell you these things are more promotional tool – hey, the season’s about to start! – than in-depth analysis. Nothing wrong with that. Just don’t take the rankings as the result of exhaustive study.
But can they be used as motivational fuel, something to stoke that “nobody believes in us” mentality most athletes thrive on? You bet. With that in mind, here’s our Aretha Franklin (R-E-S-P-E-C-T) guide to the preseason polls involving Virginia’s Division I teams.
Respect – Norfolk State was picked third in the now 12-team league (farewell, Hampton). Seeing as the two teams slotted ahead the Spartans, North Carolina A&T and Bethune-Cookman, tied for the regular season title last season and return major pieces, NSU should have few gripes with this poll. The Spartans also have three players among the 15 preseason all-league honorees – senior guard Raven Russell (second team), redshirt senior center Khadedra Croker (third team) and senior guard Alexys Long (third team). Again, not a lot to complain about.
No respect – Virginia Tech returns all five starters from a team that caught fire in March and rolled to the WNIT title game. Virginia brings back four starters from a squad that reached the second round of the NCAAs. Yet the conference’s Blue Ribbon Panel tabbed the Hokies to finish 11th, and the league’s head coaches picked the Cavaliers to be No.11 (they’re 9 in the Blue Ribbon poll). All of which begs the question – What do these folks have against the schools in the Commonwealth? Tina and Kenny, tack this up on the locker room bulletin board!
Respect – It takes a lot to be considered among the 10 best players in a league this loaded. So major props to Taylor Emery, the Virginia Tech star who earned that distinction after a junior year when she amassed a program-record 667 points.
Respect – Radford bid adieu to three starters, including two of the best performers in program history in Janayla White and Jayda Worthy. Yet the Highlanders were still the choice to finish first in this league. Now that’s respect.
No respect – Hampton, in fourth place? C’mon, folks. Guess that room full of MEAC hardware only goes so far in Big South Country. Yes, the Lady Pirates did suffer heavy personnel losses, but we suspect Hampton’s trademark ultra-disruptive defenses will cause fits for the teams in its new league. So, fourth place? Cool. Now show ’em what you got, Lady Pirates.
Respect – Radford is well-represented on the preseason all-league lists with senior guard/forward Destinee Walker (first team) and redshirt junior forward Lydia Rivers. Hampton checks in with pint-sized senior guard K’lynn Willis (first team).
No respect – Longwood was relegated to 10th place, ahead of only Winthrop. Now, we’re not saying this isn’t fair – Longwood went 7-23 last season and finished 344th of out 349 teams in the RPI. But that doesn’t mean the Lancers shouldn’t still be ticked off about it.
Insufficient data – Given that Old Dominion is fielding virtually an entire new team, we can’t criticize or commend C-USA’s head coaches for not really knowing what to do with this group prognostication-wise. For the record, the Lady Monarchs were tabbed 11th in the 14-team league. We strongly suspect ODU can exceed that projection, as last year’s severely undermanned bunch still managed to finish in a three-way tie for 10th. But with so many new faces on hand, one can’t blame the pollsters for taking a wait-and-see approach.
Respect – Despite last season’s 7-22 record, the pollsters are bullish on VCU. The Rams, who return the top four scorers from what was the youngest team in the A-10, are picked to finish sixth in the 14-team league. VCU sophomore forward Tera Reed (a team-high 13.8 ppg) was a preseason third-team all-league pick. Meanwhile, George Mason sophomore guard Nicole Cardano-Hillary, the reigning A-10 rookie of the year, earned first-team honors. Team-wise, the Patriots came in at No. 8.
No respect – Tenth place seems to be a little low for Richmond. Here’s hoping the Spiders see it that way – and do something about it.
Respect – The league’s head coaches picked Liberty second in the Lady Flames’ debut season as an A-Sun member, and there’s no shame in being slotted behind juggernaut Florida Gulf Coast. FGCU went 31-5 last season, advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in seven years and finished at No. 25 in the final USA Today coaches poll. In addition, Liberty senior forward KK Barbour was named to the 10-player preseason all-conference team.
Respect – JMU was picked to win the league title, junior guard Kamiah Smalls was tabbed player of the year, junior guard Lexie Barrier joined Smalls on the first team and junior forward Kelly Koshuta earned second-team honors. Needless to say, the Dukes got their due (no pressure on coach Sean O’Regan to take a team to the national tournament for the first time). The league also showed some love to William and Mary senior guard Bianca Boggs, another first-team selection. The Tribe was picked to finish sixth.