HUSKIES AND ORANGE TOP COACHES POLL

Connecticut, Syracuse Tie For First Place In Preseason Coaches’ Poll

 

NEW YORK – Connecticut and Syracuse are the co-favorites to win the 2011-12 BIG EAST men’s basketball regular-season crown in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches’ Poll.  The Huskies, who won the 2011 NCAA national championship, received seven first-place votes and a total of 209 points.  The Orange, who finished last season with a 27-8 record, collected five first-place votes.  It is the third tie for first place in the history of the BIG EAST with the last coming in 2007-08.  The league’s head coaches do not place their own teams on their ballots.

The Huskies, coached by Jim Calhoun, welcome back three starters, including sophomore guard Jeremy Lamb, a 2011-12 Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team pick, and junior forward Alex Oriakhi, a Preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team selection.  Freshman forward Andre Drummond was named BIG EAST Preseason Rookie of the Year.

The strength of the Orange in 2011-12 starts with senior forward Kris Joseph, a member of the Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team.  Junior guard Scoop Jardine who led the BIG EAST in assists with a 6.1 average in league play, is a Preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team pick.

Louisville finished third in the poll with 201 points and three first-place votes.  The Cardinals return 11 lettermen including three starters from last year’s team that finished 25-10 overall and 12-6 in the BIG EAST.  Junior guard Peyton Siva is a top all-around contributor to the UofL success.  Last season, he averaged 9.9 points, was fourth in the league in assists with a 5.2 average and second in steals at 2.0.  He is a Preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team selection.

Pittsburgh is a solid fourth in the poll with 188 points and one first-place vote.  The Panthers won the BIG EAST regular-season crown last season and finished 28-6 overall.  This year, Pitt will depend on senior guard Ashton Gibbs, the 2011-12 BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year.

Cincinnati was placed fifth in the poll, its highest position since joining the BIG EAST in 2005-06.  Last year, the Bearcats finished 26-9 overall, 11-7 in the league and earned an NCAA berth for the first time since 2005.  Coach Mick Cronin welcomes back three starters, including senior forward Yancy Gates, a Preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team selection.

Marquette, placed sixth in the poll, will be aiming for its seventh straight NCAA bid.  Guard Darius Johnson-Odom, a Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team pick, will give coach Buzz Williams a proven scorer.  Last year, the Golden Eagles finished 22-15 and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time since 2003.

West Virginia was picked seventh.  The Mountaineers figure to be led by senior forward Kevin Jones who made the Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team.  Last season, WVU compiled its seventh straight 20-win season, finishing 21-12.

Villanova was slotted for eighth place.  Like West Virginia, the Wildcats finished 21-12 and were one of the BIG EAST’s record 11 NCAA tourney teams.  This season, coach Jay Wright will not have a senior on his squad.  Junior guard Maalik Wayns is the top returning scorer with a 13.8 average.

The coaches chose Notre Dame ninth.  The Irish recorded the second highest win total in school history last year when they finished 27-7 overall and were 14-4 in the BIG EAST.  Notre Dame will miss guard Ben Hansbrough, last year’s BIG EAST Player of the Year, but will lean on Tim Abromaitis who made the 2011-12 Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team.

Georgetown is 10^th in the poll.  The Hoyas will look to senior guard Jason Clark while finding replacements for Clark’s backcourt partners, all-conference players Austin Freeman and Chris Wright.

Rutgers was tabbed for 11^th place, the Scarlet Knights’ highest position in the poll since the BIG EAST became a 16-team conference in 2005-06.  Rutgers, under second-year coach Mike Rice, expects to improve on last year’s 15-17 record.

St. John’s is 12^th in the poll.  Under coach Steve Lavin, the Red Storm earned their first NCAA bid last season since 2002.  This season, Lavin will have a team with only one returning scholarship player.

Seton Hall was placed 13^th in the poll.  USF is 14^th followed by Providence and DePaul.

 

2011-12 Preseason Coaches’ Poll

 

                                                Pts.

1. Connecticut (7)            209

Syracuse (5)                   209

3. Louisville (3)                  201

4. Pittsburgh (1)                 188

5. Cincinnati                        169

6. Marquette                     155

7. West Virginia                 132

8. Villanova                         127

9. Notre Dame                  114

10. Georgetown                               104

11. Rutgers                         75

12. St. John’s                       71

13. Seton Hall                     56

14. USF                                 43

15. Providence                  40

16. DePaul                           27

First-place votes in parentheses

BIG EAST WEEKLY WRAP-UP

In an effort to expand our college sports coverage, The Boston Sports Desk is pleased to bring you a weekly wrap up of Men’s Big East Basketball for the 2010 – 2011 season.

For the week ended January 23rd:

BIG EAST Rookie of the Week
GERARD COLEMAN, Providence, G, Fr.
Coleman scored a career-high 19 points in a 72-67 victory over No. 19/15 Louisville in the Friars’ only contest of the week. He shot 7-of-12 from the floor, grabbed three rebounds, dished three assists and made two steals. PC’s perimeter defense helped force Louisville into 4-of-23 shooting from 3-point range. A native of Boston, Mass., Coleman is averaging 11.3 ppg this season.

 

BIG EAST Player of the Week
AUSTIN FREEMAN, Georgetown, G, Sr.

Freeman scored a game-high 28 points to lead Georgetown to an 80-75 win at Seton Hall in the Hoyas’ only game of the week. He shot 10-of-13 from the floor, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range. Freeman made all five of his free throw attempts, pulled down five rebounds and dealt three assists while committing only one turnover in 35 minutes. Freeman, who is from Mitchellville, Md., is averaging 18.5 ppg, which ranks third in the BIG EAST.

 

 

BIG EAST Honor Roll
Jeremy Lamb, Connecticut, G, Fr,
Averaged 15.0 points and 6.5 rebounds in a 2-0 week which included wins over Villanova and Tennessee.

Ben Hansbrough, Notre Dame, G, Sr.
Averaged 20.5 points, 5.5 assists and 4.0 rebounds in a 2-0 week, which included a career-high 28 points in a win over Marquette.

Nasir Robinson, Pittsburgh, F, Jr.
Averaged 14.5 points and 7.5 rebounds while shooting 54.5 percent from the floor in wins over Syracuse and DePaul.

Marshon Brooks, Providence, F, Sr.
Scored a game-high 27 points in a 72-67 victory over Louisville in the Friars’ only game of the week. He was 4-of-7 from 3-point range. Brooks is the second leading scorer in the conference and the third leading scorer inthe nation with a 23.6 average.

Corey Fisher, Villanova, G, Sr.
Averaged 22.0 points and 6.5 assists in a 1-1 week against two top-10 teams on the road.