Gamecocks picked to win SEC; Mitchell voted preseason POY
The prediction matches the goal.
South Carolina was picked No. 1 in the SEC in the media’s preseason poll for the second consecutive season on Tuesday, which coincides with the Gamecocks’ plans. After winning the last two SEC regular-season championships, they have their eye on a third and a select place in league history.
Only two other teams (on three occasions) have won three or more consecutive titles -- Auburn (1987-89) and Tennessee (1993-95, 1998-2004). The Gamecocks, which lost three seniors off a 34-win Final Four team but added one of the ACC’s best players, are aiming to make it thrice as nice.
USC has gone 29-3 in the SEC over the last two seasons, a final-game loss to Kentucky last year squelching a bid for a perfect SEC season and forcing the Gamecocks to share the title with Tennessee. The Gamecocks beat the Lady Volunteers in the regular season, though, and topped them again for their first SEC tournament championship.
Tennessee was picked second, accumulating 248 votes to USC’s 265. The Lady Vols reloaded with McDonald’s All-American Te’a Cooper joining Bashaara Graves, Jasmine Jones and Andraya Carter. They also have Diamond DeShields, the National Freshman of the Year two seasons ago, who’s eligible after transferring from North Carolina.
USC’s Tiffany Mitchell, Player of the Year the last two seasons, was named preseason SEC Player of the Year. A’ja Wilson, the reigning SEC Freshman of the Year, Alaina Coates and Mitchell were on the preseason all-SEC team.
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MEDIA PRESEASON ORDER OF FINISH
1. South Carolina
2. Tennessee
3. Mississippi State
4. Texas A&M
5. Kentucky
6. Ole Miss
7. Missouri
8. Arkansas
9. Georgia
10. LSU
11. Vanderbilt
12. Florida
13. Auburn
14. Alabama
MEDIA PRESEASON ALL-SEC TEAM
Tiffany Mitchell, South Carolina
Alaina Coates, South Carolina
A’ja Wilson, South Carolina
Makayla Epps, Kentucky
Victoria Vivians, Mississippi State
Diamond DeShields, Tennessee
PRESEASON SEC PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Tiffany Mitchell, South Carolina
This story was originally published October 20, 2015 at 3:05 PM.