UW-Platteville is ranked eighth in the country, and center Jeff Skemp is a first-team preseason all-American, according to the Sporting News 2008-09 College Basketball Preview, which hit newsstands Monday.

"' Experience' is an understatement for Wisconsin-Platteville, as 16 lettermen return, including all five starters from a 19-7 team," the magazine states.

Skemp, a 6-10 senior center from Hazel Green (Southwestern High School), averaged 15.2 points and 8.3 rebounds per game while becoming the seventh Pioneer ever to earn post-season all-American honors. He was third in the country in shooting at 64.7 percent, while junior guard Curt Hanson (Deerfield, Ill.) was second nationally in three-point shooting at 49.7 percent, the magazine notes. Guards Charlie Lohoff (Sr., Oshkosh/North), Josh Langenfeld (Jr., Oshkosh/West), and Mike Shaw (Jr., Madison/Edgewood) were mentioned, as was forward Kyle Tetschlag (Sr., Sheboygan/North) and Coach Paul Combs.

WIAC rival UW-Whitewater was ranked fifth in the same poll, and the Warhawks' Matt Goodwin joined Skemp on the five-player all-America team. UW-Stevens Point was listed as a possible breakthrough team, while the Pointers' Pete Rortvedt and UW-Eau Claire's Dan Beyer were honorable mention all-Americans.

The Pioneers begin practice Oct. 19, and open play with an exhibition at Bradley on Nov. 9. The regular-season opener is Saturday, Nov. 15 vs. Viterbo at 7 p.m. on Bo Ryan Court.

Booster club season ticket flyers were mailed Monday. Fans who do not receive one may call the basketball office at 608.342.1277 to request a ticket form.

Sporting News Rankings

Top 10 Teams

1. St. Thomas, Minn.

2. Washington-St. Louis (Mo.)

3. Wheaton (Ill.)

4. Augustana (Ill.)

5. UW-Whitewater

6. Gettysburg (Pa)

7. Buena Vista (Iowa)

8. UW-Platteville

9. Brandeis (Mass.)

10. Capital (Ohio)

First team All-America

Matt Goodwin, UW-Whitewater

Richard Jean-Baptiste, Brooklyn (N.Y.)

Ryan Krueger, Lawrence

Kent Raymond, Wheaton (Ill.)

Jeff Skemp, UW-Platteville