As preseason rankings continue to roll out for a number of NCAA sports, many Denver programs are being ranked highly by a number of well-respected media outlets. Sports such as hockey, lacrosse and swim and dive are among the programs receiving high preseason honors.
In hockey, DU ranks fourth in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine preseason poll and earned one first-place vote. The poll is conducted in conjunction with the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA). There is also input from coaches and members of the media in each of the six Division I college hockey conferences, as well as officers of the AHCA and USA Hockey. North Dakota, Boston College and Minnesota Duluth took first, second and third, respectively.
DU hockey also ranks fifth in the United States College Hockey Online (USCHO) poll, behind North Dakota, Boston College, Minnesota Duluth and Minnesota State.
In men’s lacrosse, the team earned the sixth spot in the US Lacrosse Magazine Early 2021 Rankings. Although this is not an official poll with input from coaches, Denver’s high ranking serves as a testament to how competitive and successful in recruiting the team continues to be.
US Lacrosse Magazine also placed the women’s team, who went 7-1 before the season was canceled, in 12th place in the early 2021 rankings.
Denver Swimming and Diving is the favorite to win first in the Summit League in both the men’s and women’s divisions, according to a vote by the conference’s head coaches. Both programs have won seven-straight Summit League Swimming and Diving Championships. Their season will begin in January alongside most other delayed fall sports.
Additionally, in men’s basketball, junior guard Jase Townsend (Dallas, Texas) earned preseason all-league honors from the Summit League. Townsend was selected to the Preseason All-Summit League Second Team. He started in all 31 games last season, averaging nearly 17 points per game—the eighth highest in the Summit League. DU Men’s Basketball was also picked to finish eighth in the Summit League Preseason Poll.
As many sports approach the beginning of their seasons, expectations have never been higher, especially considering the extra time fall sports had to prepare.
