With two Final Four teams returning to practice, there is plenty of interest surrounding the opening of preseason workouts at Washington University. The Bear men, who finished third in the nation, return four starters, while the women, who were national runners-up, return two as well as a starter who missed most of the season with an injury.

Shanna-Lei Dacanay played in nine games in 2006-07, starting seven of them and averaging in double figures in scoring, before getting hurt. "I believe we can use the youth and depth to increase our offensive tempo and defensive style of play," coach Nancy Fahey said before the opening of practice.

"It is always exciting on the first day of practice as we again begin to put the pieces of the puzzle back together."

The men, who seemed built for the 2007-08 season even while making their 2006-07 run to Salem, return D3hoops.com All-American Troy Ruths as well as guards Sean Wallis and Aaron Thompson and forward Tyler Nading. Coach Mark Edwards said, "Hopefully we are experienced and mature enough to realize that there is a lot of hard work ahead of us in order to meet those expectations."