North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State Picked To Finish Seventh In The ACC
10/18/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Oct. 18, 2011
GREENSBORO, N.C. - NC State women’s basketball was picked to finish seventh in the ACC in the 2011-12 preseason poll of the Blue Ribbon Panel, which consists of national and local media, as well as school representatives.
The Hurricanes, who earned 30 of a possible 40 first-place votes, was followed by Duke with 10 first-place votes, Maryland, Florida State, and Georgia Tech. North Carolina was picked to finish sixth, followed by NC State, Virginia, Boston College, Wake Forest, Clemson and Virginia Tech.
The Preseason All-ACC Team is highlighted by the Miami senior guard tandem of Johnson and Williams. The two led the Canes to a 20-0 home record last season at the BankUnited Center. Johnson returns as the 2011-12 ACC Preseason Player of the Year. The senior was named the 2010-11 ACC Player of the Year, the first Hurricane player to win the award, and voted to last year’s All-ACC First Team and All-ACC Defensive team. Johnson also earned spots on the Associated Press Third Team All-America, Full Court Press Second Team All-America, USBWA All-America and WBCA/State Farm All-America teams, as well as named a finalist for the John Wooden Award, given to the top player in women’s college basketball.
Joining Johnson and Williams on the Preseason All-ACC team are Florida State senior forward Cierra Bravard, Maryland senior center Lynetta Kizer and Terrapin teammate Alyssa Thomas (sophomore forward).
The ACC Newcomer Watch list, which replaced the Preseason Rookie of the Year honor in 2010, highlights freshmen, true and redshirt, and transfers that are expected to make an immediate impact in the league. This year’s Watch List includes Duke freshmen Elizabeth Williams (center) and Amber Henson (forward), Georgia Tech freshman guard Sydney Wallace, North Carolina freshman guard Brittany Roundtree and Clemson freshman guard/forward Natiece Ford. Duke’s incoming class for this year marks the second-straight No. 1 recruiting class in the country for the Blue Devils.
NC State opens up the 2010-2011 season Sunday, Nov. 6 in an exhibition game versus North Greenville at 2 p.m. in Reynolds Coliseum. The regular season begins Friday, Nov. 11 against Southeast Missouri State at noon.
Predicted Order of Finish
(First Place Votes)
1. Miami (30)
2. Duke (10)
3. Maryland
4. Florida State
5. Georgia Tech
6. North Carolina
7. NC State
8. Virginia
9. Boston College
10. Wake Forest
11. Clemson
12. Virginia Tech
