DePaul picked as preseason favorite in Big East; St. John’s guard Handford
In the preseason predicted order of finish, Villanova was picked to finish third, while senior guard Caroline Coyer (Oak Hill, Va.) was a unanimous preseason All-Big East selection.
With 10 newcomers joining a group of three returning players that combined for less than four percent of last season’s offensive output, the new-look Red Storm was selected to finish 10th in the BIG EAST Preseason Poll. Both received one first-place vote. Dunn is considered perhaps the best point guard in the country and a projected National Basketball Association lottery pick. His last year in Charlottesville was 2008-09 following one NCAA berth in four years. He tied for the team lead with seven double-doubles. “When you talk about the Big East, when you think about the Big East, a lot of those memories float back to Chris Mullin, Patrick Ewing and those guys, so to have him here sitting at the helm of St. John’s is not only good for them but good for the league”. Jenkins enters her final season among the league’s active career leaders in points (fourth), assists (first) and steals (third), and is coming off a summer in which she was a member of gold-medal winning Team US at the World University Games.
Dunn has earned a number of other preseason honors this fall, including being named 2015-16 Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook Preseason National Player of the Year. VU also returns Josh Hart, who was named BIG EAST Sixth Man of the Year and won the Dave Gavitt Trophy as the Most Outstanding Player in the 2015 BIG EAST Tournament.
The Hoyas, led by D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera, tied for second last season with a 12-6 record. Season tickets for all home games can be purchased Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.at the PC Ticket Office in Schneider Arena, at Friars.com or by calling (401) 865 GOPC. Godlevske’s offseason work has paid off in the recruiting department as the league’s highest-ranking rookie is on the Butler roster in BIG EAST Preseason Freshman of the Year Brittany Ward.
The second team consisted of Whitehead, Delgado, Ellenson, Villanova forward Daniel Ochefu and DePaul guard Billy Garrett Jr.
Coaches also voted Providence guard Kris Dunn the Preseason Player of the Year and Villanova guard Jalen Brunson was chosen Preseason Freshman of the Year.
Kellen Dunham, Butler, G, Sr., 6-6, 200, Pendleton, Ind.
Second-year head coach Carolyn Kieger has a fresh slate at Marquette (9-22, 4-14) in 2015-16 as the Golden Eagles are the youngest team in Division I.
Chris Mullin takes over at St. John’s, his alma mater, and it’s his first coaching job of any kind. Butler 67 4. Xavier 55 5.