Women's Basketball Notebook, Oct. 30, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009 | Women's Basketball
The 2009-10 Associated Press Women's Basketball Preseason Poll was released Friday and Florida was among the teams receiving votes. The Gators will play nine games against teams ranked in the preseason top-25, in addition to five more games versus teams receiving votes.
“This might be the toughest schedule we've ever assembled here,” said UF head coach Amanda Butler, who enters her third season at the helm of the Gators.
Florida's first encounter against a top-25 ranked team comes on Nov. 17, when the team plays host to No. 15 Florida State in the O'Connell Center at 7 p.m.
Connecticut, the team that ended UF's 2008-09 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, is the preseason unanimous No. 1-ranked team coming off a 39-0 season when the Huskies captured their sixth national title. Four teams from the Southeastern Conference were ranked in the top-25, with four more, including Florida, receiving votes.
The Gators capped last season ranked No. 21 in the final AP poll after compiling a 24-8 overall record and finishing tied-for-fourth in the SEC.
Florida's 2009-10 season gets underway on Sat., Nov. 14, when the Gators play host to Stetson at a time still to be determined, pending the kick-off time for the Florida-South Carolina football game that day.
Injury Update
There has been an outpouring of wishes to Butler after she ruptured her left Achilles tendon on Oct. 24 during a flag football game. She underwent successful surgery on Oct. 26 and hasn't missed a beat with the exception of that day's practice.
Following Thursday's practice, Butler volunteered her time at the Children's Miracle Network Art Auction that featured all art created by the pediatric patients at Shands Hospital in Gainesville.
“It was a great event,” Butler said. “There were so many generous people who came out to support the kids and they are the big winners.
“I'm feeling fine,” Butler said of her injury. “Injuries are part of the game, not usually to coaches though. It is what it is and there's work to be done. The doctors put it back together and I'll be hopping around on crutches instead of stomping around in heels on game day, so to me it will be no different.”
On the possession prior to her injury, her team was able to tie the score. During the go-ahead drive is when Butler's Achilles tendon was torn, but the team did proceed to score and win. Unfortunately, the team lost its next game without Butler, the starting quarterback, which spoiled the run at an undefeated season.
“The intramural championships are this weekend and I plan to be out there rooting for the team,” Butler said. “We still have a championship to win.”
| Associated Press Preseason Poll– Oct. 30, 2009 | ||
| 1. | Connecticut (40) | 1000 |
| 2. | 951 | |
| 3. | 862 | |
| 4. | 799 | |
| 5. | 798 | |
| 6. | 772 | |
| 7. | 744 | |
| 8. | 676 | |
| 9. | 600 | |
| 10. | 521 | |
| 11. | 492 | |
| 12. | 487 | |
| 13. | 444 | |
| 14. | 394 | |
| 15. | 385 | |
| 16. | 317 | |
| 17. | 301 | |
| 18. | 294 | |
| 19. | 262 | |
| 20. | 241 | |
| 21. | 201 | |
| 22. | 165 | |
| 23. | 156 | |
| 24. | 143 | |
| 25. | 138 | |
| OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Texas A&M 137, Maryland 114, Mississippi State 110, San Diego State 78, South Dakota State 70, Pittsburgh 48, Purdue 45, Kansas State 33, Gonzaga 30, Marist 26, UCLA 26, Michigan 16, Iowa State 14, Minnesota 14, Boston College 12, Louisiana Tech 11, Tulane 9, Bowling Green 8, Arkansas 7, TCU 7, Wisconsin-Green Bay 7, Auburn 6, Nebraska 6, Texas Tech 6, USC 5, Florida 3, Fresno State 3, Oklahoma State 3, Delaware 1, Florida Gulf Coast 1, Temple 1 | ||
-UF-
