COLLEGE STATION- Texas A&M's women's basketball team was ranked No. 5 in the 2014-15 Associated Press Preseason Poll, the program's highest preseason ranking in history.
Defending national champion Connecticut, who defeated Texas A&M in the Elite Eight in 2013-14, was the poll's top team. South Carolina, who Texas A&M defeated 67-65 in overtime in 2014 was ranked second, followed by Notre Dame and SEC foe Tennessee, then Texas A&M.
The Aggies open the season at No. 18 DePaul, a rematch of a 2014 Sweet 16 game. This marks the third time in six years that the Aggies open with a game between ranked teams. The Nov. 14 game is broadcast on the Big East Digital Network, and tips at 6:30 p.m.
Six of the Aggies' opponents are ranked in the initial poll. In addition to DePaul, the Aggies play at No. 2 South Carolina (Jan. 26/ESPN2), at No. 4 Tennessee (Jan. 8/SEC Network), host No. 7 Duke (Nov. 30/SEC Network), at a neutral site against No. 9 Texas (Dec. 21/SEC Network), and at No. 11 Kentucky (Feb. 19/SEC Network Plus).
Prior to this season, the Aggies' highest initial ranking was No. 6 in 2011-12, as defending national champions. The Aggies have been ranked in the preseason top 10 a total of three times, and have been ranked in the preseason poll each of the last eight years.
Texas A&M returns 83% of its scoring from a team that reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament and went 27-9 in 2013-14. The Aggies open with an exhibition against Oklahoma City on Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. in Reed Arena. The Aggies' regular season home opener is Nov. 19 against Rice at 7 p.m.