MELBOURNE, Fla. - Sunshine State Conference women's basketball coaches vote the University of Tampa as conference's top team heading into the 2019-20 season. The Spartans earn the top spot following 95 total points and six first-place votes in the preseason poll.
Nova Southeastern University finished second in the ranking with 91 points and four first-place votes, while Florida Southern College follows in third place with 78 points and the final first-place vote. Eckerd College sits in fourth place with 74 points, and Rollins College rounds out the Top-5 after receiving 58 points from league coaches.
During the 2018-19 season, Florida Southern (30-4, 18-2) won both the SSC regular season and postseason tournament crowns for the second consecutive year. Along with the Moccasins, Eckerd (22-10, 14-6), Nova Southeastern (21-12, 13-7), and Tampa (22-9, 15-5) gained entry into the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship Tournament. NSU took the regional championship by defeating FSC, 84-63, in the title game. The Sharks advanced to the Elite Eight, where they fell to Drury University.
Nine of 11 league teams will be in action as the 2019-20 season tips off on Friday, November 8th. Conference play begins on Wednesday, November 20th, with Florida Southern visiting Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Below are the full results of the 2019-20 SSC preseason coaches' poll. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their teams (points: 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1, first-place votes in parentheses).
2019 SSC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
-
| Rank |
School |
Total Votes |
| 1 |
Tampa |
95 (6) |
| 2 |
Nova Southeastern |
91 (4) |
| 3 |
Florida Southern |
78 (1) |
| 4 |
Eckerd |
74 |
| 5 |
Rollins |
58 |
| 6 |
Embry-Riddle |
54 |
| 7 |
Lynn |
46 |
| 8 |
Barry |
45 |
| 9 |
Florida Tech |
32 |
| 10 |
Saint Leo |
19 |
| 11 |
Palm Beach Atlantic |
13 |
See Also: SSC All-Americans | All-SSC Teams | SSC Champions | 2018-19 Standings
PREVIOUS SSC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL POLLS
-
| Year |
Predicted Regular
Season Winner |
Regular Season
Finish |
Regular Season
Champion |
Predicted
Finish |
Tournament
Champion |
Predicted Regular
Season Finish |
| 2018-19 |
Florida Southern |
1st |
Florida Southern |
1st |
Florida Southern |
1st |
| 2017-18 |
Rollins |
T9th |
Florida Southern |
T5th |
Florida Southern |
T5th |
| 2016-17 |
Nova Southeastern |
4th |
Eckerd |
T6th |
Eckerd |
T6th |
| 2015-16 |
Nova Southeastern |
1st |
Nova Southeastern |
1st |
Tampa |
2nd |
| 2014-15 |
Tampa |
5th |
Nova Southeastern |
2nd |
Nova Southeastern |
2nd |
| 2013-14 |
Nova Southeastern |
2nd |
Tampa |
T3rd |
Nova Southeastern |
1st |
| 2012-13 |
Rollins |
T3rd |
Lynn / Nova Southeastern |
7th / 2nd |
Rollins |
1st |
| 2011-12 |
Rollins |
T1st |
Barry / Florida Southern / Rollins |
5th / 3rd / 1st |
Rollins |
1st |
| 2010-11 |
Florida Southern |
1st |
Florida Southern |
1st |
Florida Southern |
1st |
| 2009-10 |
Tampa |
1st |
Tampa |
1st |
Lynn |
7th |
| 2008-09 |
Nova Southeastern |
T3rd |
Rollins/Tampa |
5th / 4th |
Tampa |
4th |
| 2007-08 |
Tampa |
2nd |
Nova Southeastern |
5th |
Nova Southeastern |
5th |
| 2006-07 |
Rollins |
T1st |
Florida Tech / Rollins |
3rd / 1st |
Tampa |
2nd |
| 2005-06 |
Rollins |
1st |
Rollins |
1st |
Tampa |
4th |
| 2004-05 |
Rollins |
T4th |
Florida Southern |
2nd |
Rollins |
1st |
| 2003-04 |
Florida Southern |
2nd |
Rollins |
2nd |
Rollins |
2nd |
| 2002-03 |
Rollins |
T3rd |
Florida Southern / Tampa |
3rd / 4th |
Florida Southern |
3rd |
| 2001-02 |
Rollins |
T1st |
Florida Tech / Rollins |
3rd / 1st |
Florida Tech |
1st |
| 2000-01 |
Rollins |
1st |
Rollins |
1st |
Rollins |
1st |