Aug. 19, 2008

VILLANOVA, Pa. - The Sports Network released its pre-season Top 25 poll on Tuesday, August 19 and the Villanova Wildcats checked in at No. 21 with 396 points. Defending National Champion Appalachian State earns the top spot in the poll with 2,546 points.

Villanova is one of six Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) teams to be ranked in the Top 25, including four teams in the Top 10. Richmond (2,162 points) is the highest CAA team at No. 4, followed by Massachusetts (2,148 points) at No. 5, James Madison (2,078 points) at No. 6 and Delaware (1,747 points) at No. 9. New Hampshire (760 points) at No. 16 is the sixth CAA squad in the poll.

The Wildcats return 17 starters from last year's team that went 7-4 overall and 5-3 in CAA play. Villanova will kickoff the 2008 campaign on Saturday, August 30 with a trip to Morgantown, W.Va. to take on the West Virginia Mountaineers. West Virginia is coming off a 48-28 defeat of Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. Following a bye week, Villanova will host Lehigh in the home opener on Sept. 13.