TicketsCINCINNATI – American Athletic Conference coaches voted University of Cincinnati women's basketball senior forward IImar'I Thomas as the Co-Preseason Player of the Year and picked the Bearcats to finish fourth the league announced Wednesday.
Thomas shared the league's top preseason honor with Temple forward Mia Davis.
It marks the first time a Bearcat has been named a conference preseason player of the year since UC legend Cheryl Cook earned the distinction from the Metro Conference prior to the 1984-85 campaign.
Thomas was also named a unanimous Preseason First Team All-AAC selection Wednesday.
Thomas has registered a decorated career at Cincinnati, earning First Team All-AAC accolades at the conclusion of each of the past two seasons. She also was named the AAC Freshman of the Year and a unanimous pick to the AAC All-Freshman Team at the end of the 2017-18 season.
Tabbed a WBCA Honorable Mention All-American a year ago, Thomas averaged 18.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 blocks in 2019-20. She scored in double figures in 27 of 32 games, posting 20 or more points in 14 contests and registered eight double-doubles. She enters this season ranked 13th on UC's all-time scoring list with 1,356 career points.
BEARCATS PICKED TO FINISH FOURTH IN AAC
UC received two first-place votes from league coaches but was picked to finish fourth with 73 points. USF was picked as the league favorite, garnering 98 points and eight first-place votes. UCF was slotted second with 79 points and one first-place vote. Tulane was third with 78 points.
The predicted order of finish for the remaining AAC teams follows: Temple (57 points), Wichita State (54), Houston (49), Memphis (40), East Carolina (36), SMU (31) and Tulsa (10).
2020-21 AAC PRESEASON POLL & AWARDS
Coaches Preseason Poll
Finish – Team (First-Place Votes) – Points
1 – USF (8) – 98
2 – UCF (1) – 79
3 – Tulane – 78
4 – Cincinnati (2) – 73
5 – Temple – 57
6 – Wichita State – 54
7 – Houston – 49
8 – Memphis – 40
9 – East Carolina – 36
10 – SMU – 31
11 – Tulsa – 10
Preseason Players of the Year
IImar'I Thomas, F, Cincinnati
Mia Davis, F, Temple
Preseason First Team
Brittney Smith, F, UCF
IImar'I Thomas, F, Cincinnati*
Lashonda Monk, G, East Carolina
Mia Davis, F, Temple*
Krystal Freeman, F, Tulane*
Preseason Second Team
Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu, F, Memphis
Elisa Pinzan, G, USF
Elena Tsineke, G, USF
Arsula Clark, G, Tulane
Mariah McCully, G, Wichita State
* unanimous selection
ABOUT THE BEARCATS
Thomas marks the lone returning starter from the 2019-20 squad that earned a 22-10 overall mark, tied for second in the league at 11-5 and advanced to the finals of the AAC Women's Championship. It marked the program's second straight 20-win campaign in as many seasons under Clark-Heard.
Moore saw action in every game last season with 12 starts, averaging 3.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 21.0 minutes. She's the only returning Bearcat besides Thomas with double-digits starts last season.
UC's 2020-21 roster includes eight returning letterwinners and five newcomers.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Stay up to date with the team by following the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook at @GoBearcatsWBB.
Thomas shared the league's top preseason honor with Temple forward Mia Davis.
It marks the first time a Bearcat has been named a conference preseason player of the year since UC legend Cheryl Cook earned the distinction from the Metro Conference prior to the 1984-85 campaign.
Thomas was also named a unanimous Preseason First Team All-AAC selection Wednesday.
Thomas has registered a decorated career at Cincinnati, earning First Team All-AAC accolades at the conclusion of each of the past two seasons. She also was named the AAC Freshman of the Year and a unanimous pick to the AAC All-Freshman Team at the end of the 2017-18 season.
Tabbed a WBCA Honorable Mention All-American a year ago, Thomas averaged 18.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 blocks in 2019-20. She scored in double figures in 27 of 32 games, posting 20 or more points in 14 contests and registered eight double-doubles. She enters this season ranked 13th on UC's all-time scoring list with 1,356 career points.
BEARCATS PICKED TO FINISH FOURTH IN AAC
UC received two first-place votes from league coaches but was picked to finish fourth with 73 points. USF was picked as the league favorite, garnering 98 points and eight first-place votes. UCF was slotted second with 79 points and one first-place vote. Tulane was third with 78 points.
The predicted order of finish for the remaining AAC teams follows: Temple (57 points), Wichita State (54), Houston (49), Memphis (40), East Carolina (36), SMU (31) and Tulsa (10).
2020-21 AAC PRESEASON POLL & AWARDS
Coaches Preseason Poll
Finish – Team (First-Place Votes) – Points
1 – USF (8) – 98
2 – UCF (1) – 79
3 – Tulane – 78
4 – Cincinnati (2) – 73
5 – Temple – 57
6 – Wichita State – 54
7 – Houston – 49
8 – Memphis – 40
9 – East Carolina – 36
10 – SMU – 31
11 – Tulsa – 10
Preseason Players of the Year
IImar'I Thomas, F, Cincinnati
Mia Davis, F, Temple
Preseason First Team
Brittney Smith, F, UCF
IImar'I Thomas, F, Cincinnati*
Lashonda Monk, G, East Carolina
Mia Davis, F, Temple*
Krystal Freeman, F, Tulane*
Preseason Second Team
Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu, F, Memphis
Elisa Pinzan, G, USF
Elena Tsineke, G, USF
Arsula Clark, G, Tulane
Mariah McCully, G, Wichita State
* unanimous selection
ABOUT THE BEARCATS
Thomas marks the lone returning starter from the 2019-20 squad that earned a 22-10 overall mark, tied for second in the league at 11-5 and advanced to the finals of the AAC Women's Championship. It marked the program's second straight 20-win campaign in as many seasons under Clark-Heard.
Moore saw action in every game last season with 12 starts, averaging 3.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 21.0 minutes. She's the only returning Bearcat besides Thomas with double-digits starts last season.
UC's 2020-21 roster includes eight returning letterwinners and five newcomers.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Stay up to date with the team by following the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook at @GoBearcatsWBB.