Mississippi State received a No. 10 preseason ranking from the USBWA, while ESPNW tabbed the Bulldogs 12th.
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Bulldogs Picked No. 10 By USBWA, No. 12 By ESPNW
October 31, 2016 | Women's Basketball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Mississippi State women's basketball garnered two additional Top 15 preseason rankings Monday, coming in at No. 10 in the United States Basketball Writers Association preseason poll and No. 12 in ESPNW's ranking.
Mississippi State earned the rankings after coming in at No. 11 in the USA Today Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Like the USA Today preseason poll, Vic Schaefer's squad is the second-highest Southeastern Conference team in both the ESPNW and USBWA rankings. The Bulldogs return all five starters and nine letterwinners from last year's team that won a school-record 28 games, matched the program-best with 11 SEC wins, claimed the best league finish in school history (tie for second) and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16.
State came in behind South Carolina, who was picked third by ESPNW and second by the USBWA. The ESPNW ranking saw Tennessee in a tie for 14th, Kentucky at No. 17, Florida at No. 22 and Missouri at No. 24.
Kentucky followed the Bulldogs and Gamecocks at No. 11 in the USBWA poll, while Tennessee followed at No. 12, Auburn at No. 18 and Florida at No. 25.
Mississippi State, who was picked second in the SEC by league media, hosts former assistant coach Elena Lovato and Arkansas-Fort Smith in an exhibition contest at 6 p.m. Thursday. Admission to the game is free, and it will be streamed live online on SEC Network +.
The Bulldogs officially open the season Nov. 11 against Villanova in the Maine Tipoff Tournament. The season-opening field also includes 2016 NCAA Tournament participant Purdue in addition to the host Black Bears.
State's first home contest comes at 5 p.m. on Nov. 20 against a Texas squad that was picked eighth by ESPNW and sixth in the USBWA poll.
Fans can still purchase season tickets online at www.hailstate.com/tickets or by phone at 1-888-GO-DAWGS.
Mississippi State earned the rankings after coming in at No. 11 in the USA Today Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Like the USA Today preseason poll, Vic Schaefer's squad is the second-highest Southeastern Conference team in both the ESPNW and USBWA rankings. The Bulldogs return all five starters and nine letterwinners from last year's team that won a school-record 28 games, matched the program-best with 11 SEC wins, claimed the best league finish in school history (tie for second) and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16.
State came in behind South Carolina, who was picked third by ESPNW and second by the USBWA. The ESPNW ranking saw Tennessee in a tie for 14th, Kentucky at No. 17, Florida at No. 22 and Missouri at No. 24.
Kentucky followed the Bulldogs and Gamecocks at No. 11 in the USBWA poll, while Tennessee followed at No. 12, Auburn at No. 18 and Florida at No. 25.
Mississippi State, who was picked second in the SEC by league media, hosts former assistant coach Elena Lovato and Arkansas-Fort Smith in an exhibition contest at 6 p.m. Thursday. Admission to the game is free, and it will be streamed live online on SEC Network +.
The Bulldogs officially open the season Nov. 11 against Villanova in the Maine Tipoff Tournament. The season-opening field also includes 2016 NCAA Tournament participant Purdue in addition to the host Black Bears.
State's first home contest comes at 5 p.m. on Nov. 20 against a Texas squad that was picked eighth by ESPNW and sixth in the USBWA poll.
Fans can still purchase season tickets online at www.hailstate.com/tickets or by phone at 1-888-GO-DAWGS.
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