Aug. 21, 2006

Top Drawer Soccer, an online publication, released a preseason projection of the 48-team draw for the 2006 NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament, and South Carolina was listed as the No. 16 team. The Gamecocks are predicted to earn an at-large bid out of Conference USA and with a top 16-seed would receive a first-round bye.

South Carolina is ranked No. 24 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America preseason poll. Carolina plays host to cross-state rival Clemson on Friday, Aug. 25. The match is schedule for a 7 p.m. start.

A complete list of Top Drawer’s Soccer preseason projection is listed below.

Top Drawer Soccer Editor’s Note: This Ranking is based on the 48-team field for the postseason NCAA Tournament, reflecting the automatic bids given to D1 conference champions. While there may be certain teams not in the list better than certain teams in this list (depending on who you ask), the ranking is intended to be a running projection of who will qualify for the postseason tourney.

Men’s Tournament 48 National Ranking – Preseason:

1. UCLA - Pac 10
2. Maryland - ACC
3. Virginia - ACC/At-Large
4. California - Pac 10/At-Large
5. North Carolina - ACC/At-Large
6. Indiana - Big 10
7. Southern Methodist - Conference USA
8. Creighton - Missouri Valley

9. South Florida – Big East
10. Clemson – ACC/At Large
11. Connecticut – Big East/At-Large
12. St. Johns – Big East/At-Large
13. Notre Dame – Big East/At-Large
14. Penn State – Big Ten/At-Large
15. New Mexico – Mountain Pacific
16. South Carolina – Conference USA/At-Large

17. Duke – ACC/At-Large
18. UNC-Greensboro – Southern
19. Old Dominion – CAA
20. Cal State Northridge – Big West
21. Wake Forest – ACC/At Large
22. Hofstra – CAA/At-Large
23. Ohio State – Big 10/At-Large
24. Santa Clara – West Coast

25. James Madison – CAA/At-Large
26. Seton Hall – Big East/At-Large
27. Wisconsin-Milwaukee – Horizon
28. Virginia Commonwealth – CAA/At-Large
29. Missouri State – Missouri Valley/At-Large
30. Akron – Mid-American
31. UC Santa Barbara – Big West/At-Large
32. St. Louis – Atlantic 10

33. Hartwick – Atlantic Soccer
34. Coastal Carolina – Big South
35. Dartmouth – Ivy
36. San Francisco – West Coast/At-Large
37. Washington – Pac 10/At Large
38. Boston College – ACC/At-Large
39. Cincinnati – Big East/At Large
40. San Diego State – Pac 10/At-Large

41. UMBC-America East
42. Monmouth – Northeast
43. American – Patriot
44. Fairfield – Metro Atlantic
45. Illinois-Chicago – Horizon/At-Large
46. Central Florida – Conference USA/At-Large
47. Oakland – Mid-Continent
48. Campbell – Atlantic Sun