All articles tagged with #preseason polls
UConn men’s and women’s basketball teams were selected as the top favorites in the Big East Conference for the 2026-27 season. The men’s squad, led by Silas Demary Jr., is expected to win the conference, while the women’s team, anchored by Sarah Strong, is projected to repeat as champions. Xavier men’s basketball has improved its ranking to sixth after a difficult previous season, while the women’s team moved up to ninth.
Missouri Tigers head coach, Dennis Gates, expressed that the team is not concerned with preseason polls and believes they are often inaccurate. He highlighted the team's depth and experience with the addition of several newcomers and emphasized the need for the team to grow and establish their identity. Gates also discussed the potential of playing graduate senior guards Nick Honor and Sean East together, despite statistics suggesting better performance with only one on the court. He credited the success of the program to the collective efforts of past coaches, athletic director, and university president, expressing optimism for the team's future and their goal of reaching the Final Four.