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By TOM ZEBOLD

USF Senior Writer

TAMPA - The Bulls were predicted to finish in the exact same spot they ended up in the Big East last season.

The USF women's basketball team was picked ninth in the Preseason Big East Coaches' Poll a season removed from a 19-15 finish and a trip to the WNIT's third round. Head coach Jose Fernandez's squad was selected ahead of Villanova, Marquette, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Seton Hall and Providence.

The Bulls went 8-8 in the league last season despite not having Andrea Smith, who led USF in scoring as a junior, because of a knee injury. Smith, along with her sister, Andrell, and guard Inga Orekhova accompanied Fernandez to Thursday's Big East Media Day in New York City and the coach was excited to talk about his reloaded roster.

"As a basketball coach, it makes you look pretty good because now I think we have two very good wings in Andrea Smith and Inga Orekhova, and Andrea's sister, Andrell. We have some very good pieces," Fernandez said. "We return four starters and I think we really recruited a great freshman class to add to the eight seniors we have on this team."

Fernandez on Conference Captaincy

Fernandez had the honor of giving the league's address as the conference's captain at media day and the veteran USF coach was thankful for the experience.

"It's a way of giving back to our game and it's also a great honor to represent our league, not only with the NCAA, but with the WBCA to speak on behalf of our conference," Fernandez said.

2012-13 Preseason Coaches Poll

School, Points