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UCLA Basketball: Women’s team ranked 7th in the preseason USA Today Coaches Poll

By Mike Regalado

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 12: General view of the exterior of Pauley Pavilion is seen prior to the start of the game between the Oakland Golden Grizzlies and the UCLA Bruins on November 12, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 12: General view of the exterior of Pauley Pavilion is seen prior to the start of the game between the Oakland Golden Grizzlies and the UCLA Bruins on November 12, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /
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The Women’s UCLA Basketball team will start the preseason in the Top 10 of the USA Today Coaches Poll with a #7 ranking.

The Women’s UCLA Basketball team are getting a lot of attention this preseason. Two weeks ago, the Bruins were voted to finish first in the Pac-12 for the 2017-18 season. This came after a fantastic 2016-17 season where UCLA finished 25-9 (with a perfect home record of 16-0) as they made it back to the Sweet 16 led by Jordin Canada and Monique Billings.

RELATED: UCLA Women’s Basketball picked 1st in Pac-12 Preseason Poll

This year, they are expected to repeat their success, though many think they are destined for more. A hint of that came in the form of the preseason USA Today Coaches Poll which has the Bruins ranked 7th in the inital standings.

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Last year’s team was one of the best in recent history. It was also the second year in a row that the women made it to the Sweet 16. This year we are going to be able to see how much farther this team can go as they return the core of the 2016-17 roster.

Leading the charge will be the aforementioned Canada in her final season. Last year she had a team-high 17.8 points per game, which was also 3rd best in the Pac-12. She also led the conference with 7.12 assists, which translates to 6th best in the nation.

Billings will comeback, also for her senior season, as the Bruins’ second-best scoring threat as her 16.7 ppg last year was 5th best in the Pac-12. On top of that she is a master glass cleaner as she pulled down 10.5 rebounds, good for 2nd in the conference.

Helping in the scoring column will be Kennedy Burke who was 3rd in points behind Canada and Billings with 12.2. She will have to step up as the main outside shooting threat after the Bruins lost long bombers Nicole Kornet and Kari Korver to graduation.

Next: The Complete 2017-18 UCLA Women's Basketball Schedule

Other Pac-12 teams in the Top 25: #9 Stanford, #11 Oregon, Tied-#25 Cal and #25-Washington.