Hokie ClubGREENSBORO, N.C. – Defending ACC champion Duke has been named as 2013-14 Atlantic Coast Conference Women’s Basketball preseason favorite in separate polls of the league’s Blue Ribbon Panel and its 15 head coaches.
The Blue Devils, who return all five starters, 11 letterwinners and top seven scorers from last season’s team that finished 33-3 and reached the regional final of the 2013 NCAA Women’s Championship, were listed as this year’s preseason favorite by 39 Blue Ribbon Panel voters.
ACC newcomer Notre Dame received 14 first-place votes and placed second in the voting, followed by Maryland (three first-place votes) and North Carolina (one first-place vote).
Florida State and Georgia Tech tied for fifth in the Blue Ribbon Panel balloting, while Syracuse was seventh, Virginia eighth and Miami ninth. NC State (10th), Boston College (11th), Wake Forest (12th), Virginia Tech (13th), Clemson (14tH) and Pittsburgh (I15th) rounded out the poll.
Duke received 10 first-place votes in the ACC coaches’ balloting, while Notre Dame received five. The coaches’ predicted order of finish nearly mirrored that of the Blue Ribbon panel, with the exception of Georgia Tech being chosen fifth outright instead of sharing the spot with Florida State (which placed sixth in the coaches’ vote).
Two-time ACC Player of the Year Alyssa Thomas of Maryland was predicted to become a three-time winner in 2013-14 in both the Blue Ribbon Panel and the coaches’ votes.
Blue Ribbon Panel Preseason Poll
1. Duke (843 points, 39 first-place votes)
2. Notre Dame (794 points, 14 first-place votes)
3. Maryland (745 points, 3 first-place votes)
4. North Carolina (715 points, 1 first-place vote)
T5. Georgia Tech (527 points)
T5. Florida State (527 points)
7. Syracuse (517 points)
8. Virginia (470 points)
9. Miami (419 points)
10. NC State (363 points)
11. Boston College (304 points)
12. Wake Forest (263 points)
13. Virginia Tech (213 points)
14. Clemson (159 points)
15. Pittsburgh (102 points)
Blue Ribbon Panel Preseason All-ACC Team
Chelsea Gray, Sr., G, Duke
Tricia Liston, Sr., G, Duke
Elizabeth Williams, Jr., F/C, Duke
Tyaunna Marshall, Sr., G, Georgia Tech
Alyssa Thomas, Sr., F, Maryland
Natalie Achonwa, Sr., F, Notre Dame
Kayla McBride, Sr., G, Notre Dame
Xylina McDaniel, So., F, North Carolina
Ataira Franklin, Sr., G, Virginia
Chelsea Douglas, Sr., G, Wake Forest
Blue Ribbon Panel Preseason Player of the Year
Alyssa Thomas, Maryland
Blue Ribbon Panel Newcomer Watch List
Oderah Chidom, Fr., F, Duke
Kendall McCravey-Cooper, Fr., F/C, Duke
Kaela Davis, Fr., G, Georgia Tech
Lexie Brown, Fr., G, Maryland
Diamond DeShields, Fr., G, North Carolina
Taya Reimer, Fr. F, Notre Dame
**an extra member was added to the team due to a tie in voting
ACC Coaches Preseason Poll
1. Duke (220 points, 10 first place votes)
2. Notre Dame (211 points, 5 first place votes)
3. Maryland (195 points)
4. North Carolina (182 points)
5. Georgia Tech (146 points)
6. Florida State (137 points)
7. Syracuse (133 points)
8. Virginia (128 points)
9. Miami (103 points)
10. NC State (90 points)
11. Boston College (75 points)
12. Wake Forest (68 points)
13. Virginia Tech (58 points)
14. Clemson (34 points)
15. Pittsburgh (20 points)
Coaches Preseason All-ACC Team
Chelsea Gray, Sr., G, Duke
Tricia Liston, Sr., G, Duke
Elizabeth Williams, Jr., F/C, Duke
Tyaunna Marshall, Sr., G, Georgia Tech
Alyssa Thomas, Sr., F, Maryland
Jewell Loyd, So., G, Notre Dame
Kayla McBride, Sr., G, Notre Dame
Diamond DeShields, Fr., G, North Carolina
Xylina McDaniel, So., F, North Carolina
Ataira Franklin, Sr., G, Virginia
Coaches Preseason Player of the Year
Alyssa Thomas, Maryland
Coaches Newcomer Watch List
Oderah Chidom, Fr., F, Duke
Morgan Jones, Fr. G, Florida State
Kaela Davis, Fr., G, Georgia Tech
Diamond DeShields, Fr., G North Carolina
Taya Reimer, Fr., F, Notre Dame