The Big East preseason poll has two-time defending national champion UConn as the team to beat. It is a step up from a season ago. UConn was coming off a run at the national title. However, the Huskies were picked to finish third behind Marquette and Creighton in the 2023-24 Big East preseason poll.
UConn received 10 of 11 first-place votes to earn the No. 1 spot followed by Creighton, Xavier and Marquette in the 2024-25 preseason poll. UConn coach Dan Hurley was unable to vote for his own team and he gave a first-place vote to Marquette.
The 2024-2025 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches Poll!
Read More: https://t.co/u6k6hfkEnI pic.twitter.com/o9iDsNvV8F
— BIG EAST MBB (@BIGEASTMBB) October 23, 2024
Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner was named the preseason Big East Player of the Year. UConn’s Liam McNeeley was the preseason freshman of the year.
Eight Big East teams in action on Nov. 4 as the regular season gets underway. Things get started when St. John’s hosts to Fordham at 6:30 p.m. ET. The Big East schedule begins when Providence plays at DePaul on Dec. 10.
The Big East has three teams in the top 25 in The Associated Press preseason poll. UConn is at No. 3 followed by No. 15 and No. 18 Marquette. St. John’s, Xavier and Providence are the other Big East teams also receiving votes.
Big East Preseason Poll Has UConn As The Team To Beat
UConn had four starters selected in the 2024 NBA Draft. That did not stop the other coaches from making the Huskies the preseason favorite. Alex Karaban is the only returning starter. He was UConn’s lone first-team pick.
In an exhibition game against Rhode Island, sophomore Solo Ball led the Huskies with 18 points while Saint Mary’s transfer Aidan Mahaney added 17 points. Karaban finished with 13 points, eight rebounds, four assists, one steal and a blocked shot. Mahaney landed on the Big East third team.
However, it is not all good news as McNeeley is currently sidelined with a calf injury. It is uncertain if he will be ready for the season opener against Sacred Heart on Nov. 6.
Marquette, Creighton and Xavier To Battle For No. 2 Spot
One of the biggest questions in the Big East preseason poll was who would be picked second behind UConn. Creighton or Marquette finished tied for second in the 2023-24 Big East standings after they each finished 14-6 in Big East play.
Creighton’s list of returnees is led by Kalkbrenner. He averaged 17.3 points and 7.6 rebounds a season ago. Steven Ashworth is another returning double-digit scorer.
The @BIGEASTMBB Preseason Player of the Year 🏆#GoJays x @RyanKalkbrenner pic.twitter.com/tP9ku7XIiK
— Creighton Men’s Basketball (@BluejayMBB) October 23, 2024
Creighton will face Purdue in a scrimmage on Saturday. That should be a nice way to prepare for the start of the regular season.
Creighton edged out Xavier for the No. 2 spot. Creighton finished with 84 points with Xavier at 82. Xavier’s Zach Freemantle and Dayvion McKnight were second-team picks. Ryan Conwell earned third-team honors. Xavier’s Lassina Traore will miss the season due to injury.
Leading scorer Kam Jones and David Joplin return for a Marquette team that reached the 2024 Big East tournament title game. Something to keep in mind is that Joplin led the way with 20 points in the Blue & Gold Scrimmage.
What About the Wildcats and Red Storm?
St. John’s almost landed fourth in the preseason poll. The Red Storm were picked fifth for the second season in a row.
St. John’s landed one of the best transfers when former Seton Hall star Kadary Richmond landed with the Red Storm. Richmond earned preseason first-team recognition. In a scrimmage against Rutgers, returnees Zuby Ejiofor and RJ Luis Jr. combined for 49 points. Also, North Texas transfer Aaron Scott added 10 points in the scrimmage.
Providence, picked to finish sixth, will be led by first-team selection Bryce Hopkins. Something to consider is that Hopkins and the Friars will play an exhibition game against UMass on Saturday.
Villanova returns leading scorer Eric Dixon. However, four of the top five scorers are gone. Dixon will serve a one-game suspension for taking part in the Portsmouth Invitational. The Wildcats were active in the transfer portal. Miami’s Wooga Poplar, Penn’s Tyler Perkins and La Salle’s Jhamir Brickus are among the newcomers. Kris Parker arrives from Alabama while freshman Matthew Hodge is another player to keep an eye on. Dixon is a first-team pick with Poplar voted to the third team. Villanova hopes the newcomers can help the Wildcats be a surprise team in the 2024-25 season.
