Despite receiving two less first place votes than second choice Connecticut, Syracuse has been named the Big East’s preseason favorite by the league’s annual media poll. No. 3 Louisville also received a pair of first place votes.
Big East Media Tabs Syracuse As Preseason Favorite, Pitt’s Gibbs As Player Of The Year
The Big East’s annual media poll has Syracuse as the preseason pick to win the conference, and Pitt guard Ashton Gibbs as the league’s preseason player of the year.
Here’s the entire poll:
1. Syracuse (6)
2. Connecticut (8)
3. Louisville (2)
4. Pittsburgh
5. Marquette
6. Cincinnati
7. West Virginia
8. Villanova
9. Notre Dame
10. Georgetown
11. Rutgers
12. St. John’s
13. Seton Hall
14. South Florida
15. DePaul
16. Providence
DePaul at No. 15 feels at least three places too high.
Pittsburgh’s Ashton Gibbs, Syracuse’s Kris Joseph, Connecticut’s Jeremy Lamb, Marquette’s Darius Johnson-Odom and Notre Dame’s Tim Abromaitis were named to the preseason All-Big East team. Gibbs was selected as the preseason player of the year, receiving seven votes to Lamb's four.
Cincinnati’s Yancy Gates, West Virginia’s Kevin Jones, Louisville’s Peyton Siva, Syracuse’s Scoop Jardine, Connecticut teammates Alex Oriakhi and Andre Drummond and Villanova’s Maalik Wayns and Mouphtaou Yarou also received votes.
Connecticut big man Andre Drummond was the overwhelming choice for Big East rookie of the year, receiving 12 votes. No other freshman received more than one.
The writers who participated in the poll were: Greg Auman, St. Petersburg Times; Rick Bozich, Louisville Courier-Journal; Phil Chardis, Manchester (Conn.) Journal-Inquirer; Ken Davis, UConnPlaybook.com; Chris Dortch, Blue Ribbon Basketball Yearbook; Ray Fittipaldo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; Dave Hickman, Charleston Gazette; Joe Juliano, Philadelphia Inquirer; Bill Koch, Cincinnati Enquirer; Kevin McNamara, Providence Journal; Tom Noie, South Bend Tribune; Dana O’Neil, ESPN.com; J.P. Pelzman, Bergen (N.J.) Record; Brendan Prunty, Newark Star-Ledger; Lenn Robbins, New York Post; Todd Rosiak, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
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