Huskers Fifth in Big 12 Preseason Poll

Lincoln - The Nebraska women's basketball team was picked to finish fifth in the 2005-06 Big 12 Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, released by the league office in Dallas on Thursday. The Huskers, who return four starters from last year's club that advanced to the postseason for the second straight year, were picked higher than any other team from the Big 12 North Division. 

Schools from the Big 12 South Division occupied the top four spots in the poll, with defending national champion Baylor (113) claiming the No. 1 position with six first-place votes from opposing coaches in the league. Texas (110) earned the No. 2 spot with two first-place votes, while Texas Tech (108) took the No. 3 spot with four first-place votes. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team in the 1-12 predicted order of finish.

After the predicted log jam in the top three spots, Oklahoma, which tied Nebraska in sixth place in the final 2004-05 Big 12 standings, received the fourth-highest vote total with 91 points. Nebraska was picked to finish fifth with 70 points, while fellow Big 12 North foe Kansas was close behind with 66 points. The four schools ahead of the Huskers in the Big 12 Preseason Coaches Poll have all received top 25 national rankings from several preseason publications.

Texas A&M (7th, 59 points), Kansas State (8th, 56 points), Iowa State (9th, 45 points), Missouri (10th, 37 points), Oklahoma State (11th, 23 points) and Colorado (12th, 14 points) rounded out the poll.

Coach Connie Yori, who enters her fourth season at Nebraska, said the Huskers' predicted finish was a compliment from the league coaches.

"I don't put a lot of stock in preseason polls because they are an indicator more of what you have done, rather than what you will do," Yori said. "However, I think being picked to finish in the top half of the league shows the direction our program is headed since we were picked last in my first season (2002-03)." 

Nebraska junior Kiera Hardy returns to lead the Huskers in 2005-06, as one of four returning first-team All-Big 12 players around the league in 2005-06. Hardy, a 5-6 guard from Kansas City, Mo., led the Big 12 in league play last season with 20.9 points per game and is the top returning scorer in the conference overall after averaging 19.0 points per game as a sophomore last season.

Other first-team All-Big 12 players around the league include Baylor All-American Sophia Young, a senior forward, Texas junior forward Tiffany Jackson and Texas Tech senior point guard Erin Grant.

Hardy is joined in Nebraska's list of returning players by 2005 Big 12 Newcomer-of-the-Year Jelena Spiric, who was Nebraska's second-leading scorer and third-leading rebounder during conference play last season. The senior from Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro by way of Colby (Kan.) Community College, averaged 9.3 points and 4.6 boards per contest in 16 Big 12 games in her first season with the Huskers. 

Nebraska was one of eight Big 12 Conference teams to advance to postseason in play in 2005, including NCAA Tournament qualifiers Baylor, Texas, Texas Tech, Kansas State, Iowa State and Oklahoma, and WNIT qualifier Texas A&M. 

The Preseason All-Big 12 Team will be released on Tuesday, Oct. 18. The annual Big 12 Basketball Media Days will be conducted Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 19 and 20, at the Harvey Hotel in Dallas.

Nebraska will tip-off its 2005-06 season this Friday with Husker Madness at the Bob Devaney Sports Center at 7 p.m. Before the scheduled events, which include scrimmages by the men's and women's basketball teams, a women's three-point contest and a men's dunk competition, the women's basketball program will have a special "Select Your Seat" day at the Devaney Center from 3 to 6 p.m. Current and future women's basketball season ticket holders are welcome to come and choose their seat for the upcoming season.

Doors to the Devaney Center for Husker Madness officially open at 6:30 p.m., but any fans attending the "Select Your Seat" event are welcome to stay inside the Devaney Center until Husker Madness begins. Fans are encouraged to arrive at the Devaney Center early and take advantage of $1 hot dogs and $1 Pepsi products.

For Nebraska women’s basketball season ticket information, visit Huskers.com or call 1-800-8BIGRED.

2005-06 Big 12 Conference Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll
  1.     Baylor (6)                 113
  2.     Texas (2)                  110
  3.     Texas Tech (4)          108
  4.     Oklahoma                  91
  5.     Nebraska                   70
  6.     Kansas                      66
  7.     Texas A&M                59
  8.     Kansas State             56
  9.     Iowa State                  45
10.     Missouri                     37
11.     Oklahoma State         23
12.     Colorado                    14
(first place votes in parentheses; coaches not allowed to vote for their own team)