Garrett Named Second Team Preseason All-BIG EAST
10/11/2016 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
NEW YORK - DePaul senior guard Billy Garrett Jr. was selected as a member of the second team preseason All-BIG EAST squad as the league kicked off the 2016-17 season at Madison Square Garden. The Blue Demons were picked to finish 10th while Villanova was selected as the preseason favorite.
Villanova guard Josh Hart has been chosen the 2016-17 BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year by a vote of the league's head coaches. St. John's guard Shamorie Ponds was tabbed Preseason Freshman of the Year. The coaches, who were not permitted to place their own players on their ballots, also chose an All-BIG EAST First Team, All-BIG EAST Second Team and All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention.
The 2016-17 Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team includes Villanova forward Kris Jenkins, a unanimous selection, Xavier guards Trevon Bluiett and Edmond Sumner, Butler forward Kelan Martin and Creighton guard Maurice Watson Jr.
The Preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team includes two seniors and three juniors. Garrett and center Luke Fischer of Marquette are the seniors. Garrett averaged 12.6 points and 3.5 assists last season for the Blue Demons. In three years, he has scored 642 points in BIG EAST games, the most among the league's active players. The three juniors include Seton Hall's Khadeen Carrington and Angel Delgado along with Georgetown forward Isaac Copeland.
The Preseason All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention group include three selections - Creighton junior guard Marcus Foster, Georgetown junior forward L.J. Peak and Villanova sophomore guard Jalen Brunson.
For the third straight year, Villanova has been selected unanimously to capture the BIG EAST regular-season crown in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Wildcats received all nine possible first-place votes from the league's head coaches and a total of 81 points in the poll. Coaches do not place their own teams on their ballots.
Xavier was chosen for second place followed by Creighton in third and a fourth-place tie between Seton Hall and Georgetown. Butler was slotted for sixth place with Marquette in seventh and St. John's, Providence and DePaul rounding out the poll.
2016-17 Preseason Coaches' Poll
| Pts | ||
| 1. | Villanova (9) | 81 |
| 2. | Xavier (1) | 69 |
| 3. | Creighton | 64 |
| T4. | Georgetown | 53 |
| T4. | Seton Hall | 53 |
| 6. | Butler | 44 |
| 7. | Marquette | 35 |
| 8. | St. John's | 21 |
| 9. | Providence | 18 |
| 10. | DePaul | 12 |
BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year
Josh Hart, Villanova, G, Sr., 6-5, 215, Silver Spring, Md.
BIG EAST Preseason Freshman of the Year
Shamorie Ponds, St. John's, G, Fr., 6-1, 165, Brooklyn, N.Y.
BIG EAST Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team
Kelan Martin, Butler, F, Jr., 6-7, 220, Louisville, Ky.
Maurice Watson Jr., Creighton, G, Sr., 5-10, 175, Philadelphia, Pa.
Kris Jenkins, Villanova, F, Sr., 6-6, 235, Upper Marlboro, Md.
Trevon Bluiett, Xavier, G, Jr., 6-6, 205, Indianapolis, Ind.
Edmond Sumner, Xavier, G, So., 6-6, 183, Detroit, Mich.
BIG EAST Preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team
Billy Garrett Jr., DePaul, G, Sr., 6-6, 210, Chicago, Ill.
Isaac Copeland, Georgetown, F, Jr., 6-9, 220, Raleigh, N.C.
Luke Fischer, Marquette, C, Sr., 6-11, 250, Germantown, Wis.
Khadeen Carrington, Seton Hall, G, Jr., 6-4, 195, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Angel Delgado, Seton Hall, F, Jr., 6-10, 240, Bajos De Haina, Dominican Republic
Preseason All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention
Marcus Foster, Creighton, G, Jr., 6-3, 210, Wichita Falls, Texas
L.J. Peak, Georgetown, F, Jr., 6-5, 215, Gaffney, S.C.
Jalen Brunson, Villanova, G, So., 6-2, 190, Lincolnshire, Ill.
