Tiger Tales

Preseason Polls

Street & Smith's College Basketball 2004-05 National Preview Preseason Top 25: 19

Steet & Smith's
College Basketball 2004-05 National Preview
Preseason Top 25: 19

If the Darius Washington-for-Antonio Burks trade turns out to be a wash, these Tigers are ranked far too low and Washington might be National Freshman of the Year. Washington must first shed his me-first reputation, but it could happen. Sean Banks also brought baggage as a freshman, but he averaged 24.2 points over his last seven regular-season games. That he shot five-for-21 in the NCAA Tournament misses the point, which is that a Washington-Banks-Rodney Carney-driven team has definite possibilities.

Conference USA Predicted Order of Finish:
1. Memphis
2. Louisville
3. DePaul
4. UAB
5. Cincinnati
6. Charlotte
7. Marquette
8. Southern Miss
9. Saint Louis
10. East Carolina
11. Texas Christian
12. Houston
13. Tulane
14. South Florida
S&S Top 100 College Freshmen

(ALL-SOUTH)
PlayerHeightHome StateCollege
Darius Washington6-1FloridaMemphis
Shawne Williams6-8North CarolinaMemphis