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BULLDOGS RECEIVE VOTES IN USA TODAY/ESPN PRESEASON POLL

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

With several impact players returning from a team that went 18-10 en route to an appearance in the NCAA II Tournament, the University of Minnesota Duluth will start the season just outside the national Top 25. While they did not crack the rankings, the Bulldogs did receive some votes (38 to be exact) in the preseason USA Today/ESPN Division II poll, released Monday.

UMD head coach Annette Wiles and her club won't be able to sneak up on anyone this season, her fifth as the Bulldogs' bench boss. The former player and coach at Fort Hays State University has racked up a 69-45 overall record in four seasons at the helm, and led the program to two NCAA Tournament berths in the last three years. This winter will mark the first time Wiles has a roster completely recruited by her staff at her disposal.

Two individual head the list of talented Bulldogs -- junior forward Katrina Newman (14.4 points per game a year ago) and senior guard Courtney Doucette (12.8 points per game). The duo held down the top two spots on UMD's scoring chart last winter, and could each see their point production increase following the graduation of Shelly Stemper, who put up over 11 points a game as a senior in 2011-12.

The Bulldogs open the season Nov. 10 in San Antonio, Tex. UMD will take on Central Oklahoma University in the season debut during a tournament held by St. Mary's University.

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