Virginia Tech #15, Purdue #24 in Preseason AP Poll

Two top 25 teams could feature in the Charleston Classic for the first time in the event’s 11 year history. Virginia Tech, which returns five of it’s top six scorers from it’s NCAA Tournament team last season, is ranked No. 15. Purdue, coming off a Sweet 16 appearance in March, is led by first team All-Big Ten PG Carsen Edwards and is ranked No. 24.

A few other highlights from preseason predictions:

• Alabama also received votes in the AP Poll and was picked by the media to finish 7th in the increasing competitive SEC. The conference is projected by most media outlets to receive 7-9 bids to the NCAA Tournament this season.
• Returning Atlantic-10 champion Davidson also received votes in the AP Poll and was selected third in the conference preseason poll. The Wildcats are led by star sophomore Kellan Grady, who was named the 2017-2018 A-10 Rookie of the Year.
• Northeastern, which returns all five starters from last year’s 23-win squad (including Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year Vasa Pusica), was picked to repeat as CAA regular season champions.
• Wichita State was picked 8th in the American after returning just 11% of its minutes from last season. Gregg Marshall and the Shockers will look to surprise and make it eight straight NCAA Tournament appearances.