Men's Basketball Ranked 10th In AP Preseason Poll
11/6/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
It is the first time since 1992-93 that Seton Hall has been nationally ranked in the preseason, and is the highest preseason ranking since that year, when the Pirates were picked sixth. That team, which won the BIG EAST Tournament title and reached the NCAA Second Round, finished the season also ranked sixth in the final AP poll.
"It's always flattering to be nationally ranked---especially to have the opportunity to represent our school in the Top 10. Given the schedule we have and the conference we're in, now comes the hard part--going out and earning it," said fourth-year head coach Tommy Amaker.
Arizona tops the poll, with Duke, Michigan State, Stanford and Maryland surrounding out the top five. North Carolina is sixth with Kansas, Illinois, and Tennessee just ahead of Seton Hall.
Seton Hall is the highest ranked BIG EAST team in the poll, with Connecticut in the 14th spot and Notre Dame at 15th.
The Pirates return three starters from last year's squad which went 22-10 and reached the NCAA Sweet 16. Seton Hall's top scorer from last season is junior guard Darius Lane (Brooklyn Center, MN), who averaged 15.3 points per game and is an All-BIG EAST Preseason First Team selection. The Pirates also welcome what many feel is the nation's top recruiting class with Parade's National Player of the Year Eddie Griffin (Philadelphia, PA), Andre Barrett (Bronx, NY) and Marcus Toney-El (East Orange, NJ).
Seton Hall opens the 2000-01 season on Friday, November 17 as the Pirates host Rider at Continental Airlines Arena. The Pirates have one more exhibition on the slate, Sunday, November 12, against the One World All-Stars at Walsh Gym at 7:00 p.m.
