COLLEGE STATION, Texas – With the start of the 2007-08 season less than a month and a half away, the Texas A&M women’s basketball team has been tabbed as a preseason top 10 team in three major preseason publications.
The Aggies are ranked No. 6 in SLAM Magazine’s preseason top 10 women’s basketball preview. It marks the program’s highest preseason national ranking and overall national ranking ever in school history. Prior to the 2006-07 campaign, the A&M women were ranked a program-best No. 9 by Street & Smith’s College Basketball Yearbook and SI.com which ultimately led up to the program’s first-ever Big 12 Conference Championship crown and second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
“Gary Blair has turned this program around,” said SLAM Magazine writer Clay Hallam on A&M. “The Aggies may lack size, but they are deep, quick and very, very athletic.”
A&M was also picked No. 9 by Lindy’s Basketball Annual and Athlon Sports College Basketball Annual in both publication’s preseason top 25 poll. In two of the three preseason polls, A&M was the highest-ranked Big 12 team next to Oklahoma, Baylor, Texas and Oklahoma State.
“If there is going to be a surprise Final Four program in 2007-08, it may be the Aggies,” said Athlon Sports writer Doug Herakovich on the Aggies. “Coach Gary Blair’s squad closed out last season by winning 12 of its final 15 games, and A&M will have the nation’s most athletic roster this year. Junior guard Takia Starks and senior forward Morenike Atunrase will lead the way. Rookie point guard Sydney Colson could prove to be an important ingredient.”
Last season, A&M achieved its highest final national ranking in school history. The Aggies finished No. 16 nationally in the final Associated Press Top 25 Poll and No. 21 nationally in the final USA TODAY/ESPN Coaches Top 25 Poll. They were ranked in both national polls a school-record 18 consecutive weeks including a program-best No. 10 national ranking on Nov. 28, 2006.
The A&M women will open exhibition play against the Chinese National Team on Saturday, Nov. 3 at Reed Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Fans can order season tickets for the upcoming 2007-08 season by calling The 12th Man Foundation Ticket Center at: (979) 845-2311 or 1-888-99-AGGIE.
2007-08 SLAM MAGAZINE PRESEASON TOP 10 RANKINGS
1. Tennessee
2. Connecticut
3. Maryland
4. LSU
5. Rutgers
6. Texas A&M
7. North Carolina
8. Duke
9. Oklahoma
10. George Washington
2007-08 LINDY’S PRESEASON TOP 25 POLL
1. Tennessee
2. Connecticut
3. Rutgers
4. Maryland
5. LSU
6. Oklahoma
7. North Carolina
8. Duke
9. Texas A&M
10. Stanford
11. Arizona State
12. Georgia
13. George Washington
14. Baylor
15. Cal
16. Florida State
17. Michigan State
18. Pittsburgh
19. Notre Dame
20. Texas
21. Louisville
22. Middle Tennessee
23. Oklahoma State
24. West Virginia
25. Purdue
2007-08 ATHLON SPORTS PRESEASON TOP 25 POLL
1. Connecticut
2. LSU
3. Tennessee
4. Rutgers
5. Maryland
6. Georgia
7. Stanford
8. Cal
9. Texas A&M
10. North Carolina
11. Duke
12. Arizona State
13. Baylor
14. West Virginia
15. Oklahoma
16. Texas
17. DePaul
18. Ohio State
19. Auburn
20. Wisconsin
21. Pittsburgh
22. Florida State
23. Michigan State
24. George Washington
25. Louisville
