Mitchell's Cats picked to repeat

Matthew Mitchell's UK Hoops squad has been tabbed by the preseason media poll to repeat as Southeastern Conference champions in 2013.

Matthew Mitchell's UK women's basketball squad has been tabbed by the preseason media poll to repeat as Southeastern Conference champions in 2013.

It marks the first time the Wildcats have been selected as the preseason favorite since the inception of the poll during the 1990-91 season.

Kentucky's A'dia Mathies, the reigning SEC Player of the Year, was also recognized as the preseason player of the year. The Louisville native averaged 15 points, 2.7 assists and 2.6 steals per game as a junior.

Junior Samarie Walker was named to the second team. The Ohio native averaged 9.7 points and 7.2 rebounds per game last year.

Mitchell enters his sixth season at the helm of UK Hoops after leading the Cats (28-7, 13-3 SEC) to their first SEC title since 1982. UK advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament for the second time in the last three years.

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SEC Preseason Polls
1. Kentucky
2. Georgia
3. Vanderbilt
4. Tennessee
5. Texas A&M
6. LSU
7. South Carolina
8. Arkansas
9. Florida
10. Auburn
11. Mississippi State
12. Ole Miss
13. Missouri
14. Alabama

Player of the Year:
A'dia Mathies, Kentucky

All-SEC First Team: A'dia Mathies, Kentucky
Christina Foggie, Vanderbilt
Kelsey Bone, Texas A&M
Jennifer George, Florida
Anne Marie Armstrong, Georgia

All-SEC Second Team:
Sarah Watkins, Arkansas
Jasmine Hassell, Georgia
Samarie Walker, Kentucky
Ieasia Walker, South Carolina
Meighan Simmons, Tennessee