.png&width=48&height=48&type=webp)
The University of Mississippi Athletics
SEC Releases 2002 Preseason Coaches' Poll
1/29/2002 | Softball
Jan. 29, 2002
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - LSU was voted by the league's coaches to win the 2002 Southeastern Conference Softball regular-season and Western Division titles, as announced Tuesday by the SEC office. South Carolina was selected to win the Eastern Division.
LSU, ranked fourth in the preseason USA Today/NFCA Poll, was the unanimous choice to win the overall conference crown, garnering each of the 11 votes. In the divisional race, the Tigers tallied 66 points and all 11 first-place selections as the leading vote-getter in the Western Division race. Alabama earned 52 points after finishing second in the SEC West last season. Arkansas placed third with 39 points followed by Mississippi State in fourth with 35 points. Auburn was fifth with 27 points and Ole Miss sixth with 13.
South Carolina paced the Eastern Division vote tally with 53 points and all but two first-place vote. Florida was second with 42 points and received two first-place votes. Georgia finished third with 31 total points, followed by Kentucky with 22 points and Tennessee, with 17 points, rounding out the SEC East.
Points for the poll were awarded on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis for the Eastern Division and on a 6-5-4-3-2-1 basis for the Western Division.
The 2002 SEC Softball Tournament will be held Thursday-Sunday, May 9-12 at Jim Frost Stadium in Chattanooga, Tenn.
2002 SEC Softball Preseason Coaches' PollFirst-Place Votes in Parentheses)
SEC CHAMPION: LSU (11)
WESTERN DIVISION Points1. LSU (11) 662. Alabama 523. Arkansas 394. Mississippi State 355. Auburn 276. Ole Miss 13
EASTERN DIVISION Points1. South Carolina (9) 532. Florida (2) 423. Georgia 314. Kentucky 225. Tennessee 17
