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From UConn at No. 1 to Tennessee in Top 10, here are 5 things to know about preseason Top 25

Associated Press
Published | Updated
  • 38e32553-Season Overview Basketball
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    ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND EDITIONS, NOV. 2-3 - FILE - In this Apri 7, 2013, file photo, Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma reacts against Notre Dame during the second half at the women's Final Four semifinal NCAA college basketball game in New Orleans. Auriemma is used to high expectations at UConn. With four starters back from last season's national championship team, a NCAA record ninth title is within reach. (AP Photo/Dave Martin, File) (The Associated Press)

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    Tennessee coach Holly Warlick talks about the upcoming season during NCAA college basketball media day Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/The Knoxville News Sentinel, Saul Young) (The Associated Press)

UConn was the unanimous No. 1 in The Associated Press' preseason women's basketball poll. The Huskies received all 36 first-place votes from the national media panel.

It's the ninth time that UConn has been the top team in the preseason. Five of those years they went on to win the title.

Here are five things to know about the poll:

FAMILIAR TERRITORY: Connecticut has been the No. 1 team in the preseason poll nine times now, only trailing Tennessee which was No. 1 12 times since the poll began in 1976. The Huskies have gone on to win the national championship in five of those years (2000, 2002, 2004, 2009, 2010).

BACK IN TOP 10: After being ranked 20th in the preseason poll last season, Tennessee is No. 4. Last season's ranking was the Lady Vols' lowest preseason ranking since they missed the first poll ever in 1976-77. Tennessee had only been out of the Top 10 in the preseason one other time and that was in 1984-85. In all, the Lady Vols have not been ranked just 14 times.

CONFERENCE BREAKDOWN: The Southeastern Conference led the way with six teams in the preseason Top 25 (Tennessee, Kentucky, LSU, Texas A&M, South Carolina and Georgia). The Big 12, Big Ten and ACC all had four teams while the Pac-12 had three. The new American Athletic Conference had two with UConn and Louisville while the Big East was shutout. Two mid-majors made it in with Dayton and Gonzaga getting ranked. Both are making their first appearances in a preseason poll.

COMING IN: Five teams that weren't in the final poll last season are in the preseason Top 25 starting with No. 11 Oklahoma. Also unranked at the end of last season were: LSU, Michigan State, Oklahoma State and Gonzaga.

MILESTONES: Georgia coach Andy Landers has had a team in the Top 25 now 500 times with the Lady Bulldogs' No. 24 ranking. He's second all-time to Pat Summitt, who did it 618 times at Tennessee. Geno Auriemma moved into a tie with C. Vivian Stringer for fourth all-time at 407 weeks. Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer is third with 447 weeks.