WBRS Sports Blog

Both Brandeis teams in Top 25

By Jeffrey Pickette

Kevin Olson and Steve DeLuca are not walking through that door. And Cassidy Dadaos and Lauren Orlando are not walking through that door. Yet, this didn't stop the folks at d3hoops.com from including both the men's and women's teams in their Top 25 preseason poll, released earlier this evening.

Both teams have lost significant leadership and talent from last year's NCAA tournament squads, but evidently the 25 coaches, Sports Information Directors and media members from across the nation who vote in this poll felt that the men and women would both be able to overcome these losses, with players like Andre Roberson '10, Kenny Small '10, Jessica Chapin '10 and Morgan Kendrew '12, among others, stepping up for their respective teams.

The men are ranked 22nd. Washington University in St. Louis, the two-time defending D-III national champions, received all 25 first-place votes in the men's poll.

The women are ranked 9th. The top four women's teams (Wash U, Amherst, Hope and George Fox) all split the 25 first-place votes.

As always, take these preseason rankings with a grain of salt.

"I don't take rankings too seriously. Rankings don't win you games," men's head coach Brian Meehan told me before the start of the 2007-2008 season.

"It's a nice thing, but ultimately, as I always say, it doesn't really matter [where you are ranked] 'til the end of the year," Meehan added before the start of last season.

The men open up their season November 17 at home against Lasell College. Meanwhile, the women kick things off November 15 at WPI.

For the complete preseason rankings for both the men and the women, click here.