{"id":102663,"date":"2024-10-23T17:23:40","date_gmt":"2024-10-23T21:23:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=102663"},"modified":"2024-10-23T17:24:02","modified_gmt":"2024-10-23T21:24:02","slug":"big-east-preseason-poll-has-uconn-as-the-team-to-beat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/10\/23\/big-east-preseason-poll-has-uconn-as-the-team-to-beat\/","title":{"rendered":"Big East Preseason Poll Has UConn As The Team To Beat"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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 <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.bigeast.com\/news\/2023\/10\/23\/mens-basketball-marquette-tabbed-for-first-place-in-preseason-coaches-poll.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2023-24 Big East preseason poll<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UConn received 10 of 11 first-place votes to earn the No. 1 spot followed by Creighton, Xavier and Marquette in the <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.bigeast.com\/news\/2024\/10\/23\/mens-basketball-uconn-selected-for-first-place-in-preseason-coaches-poll.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2024-25 preseason poll<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. UConn coach Dan Hurley was unable to vote for his own team and he gave a first-place vote to Marquette.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The 2024-2025 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches Poll! <\/p>\n<p>Read More: <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/u6k6hfkEnI\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/u6k6hfkEnI<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/o9iDsNvV8F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/o9iDsNvV8F<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; BIG EAST MBB (@BIGEASTMBB) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BIGEASTMBB\/status\/1849063234965324166?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">October 23, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Creighton&#8217;s <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/ryan-kalkbrenner-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ryan Kalkbrenner<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was named the preseason Big East Player of the Year. UConn&#8217;s <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/uconnhuskies.com\/sports\/mens-basketball\/roster\/liam-mcneeley\/14206\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Liam McNeeley<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was the preseason freshman of the year.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eight Big East teams in action on Nov. 4 as the regular season gets underway. Things get started when St. John&#8217;s hosts to Fordham at 6:30 p.m. ET. The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/09\/12\/breaking-down-the-top-10-big-east-mens-basketball-matchups\/\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Big East schedule<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> begins when Providence plays at DePaul on Dec. 10.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Big East has three teams in the top 25 in <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Associated Press preseason poll<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. UConn is at No. 3 followed by No. 15 and No. 18 Marquette. St. John&#8217;s, Xavier and Providence are the other Big East teams also receiving votes.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Big East Preseason Poll Has UConn As The Team To Beat<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UConn had <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/uconnhuskies.com\/news\/2024\/6\/26\/mens-basketball-castle-and-clingan-selected-in-2024-nba-draft-lottery.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">four starters selected<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the 2024 NBA Draft. That did not stop the other coaches from making the Huskies the preseason favorite. <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/alex-karaban-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alex Karaban<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the only returning starter. He was UConn&#8217;s lone first-team pick.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In an <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/uconnhuskies.com\/news\/2024\/10\/14\/mens-basketball-huskies-run-past-rhody-in-hof-enshrinement-game.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">exhibition game<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> against Rhode Island, sophomore <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/solomon-ball-2.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Solo Ball<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> led the Huskies with 18 points while Saint Mary&#8217;s transfer <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/aidan-mahaney-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aidan Mahaney<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, it is not all good news as McNeeley is currently <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.ctinsider.com\/sports\/uconn-mens-basketball\/article\/liam-mcneeley-calf-injury-uconn-huskies-19847339.php\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sidelined with a calf injury<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It is uncertain if he will be ready for the season opener against Sacred Heart on Nov. 6.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Marquette, Creighton and Xavier To Battle For No. 2 Spot<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Creighton&#8217;s list of returnees is led by Kalkbrenner. He averaged 17.3 points and 7.6 rebounds a season ago. <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/steven-ashworth-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Steven Ashworth<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is another returning double-digit scorer.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BIGEASTMBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@BIGEASTMBB<\/a> Preseason Player of the Year \ud83c\udfc6<a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/GoJays?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#GoJays<\/a> x <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RyanKalkbrenner?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@RyanKalkbrenner<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/tP9ku7XIiK\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/tP9ku7XIiK<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Creighton Men\u2019s Basketball (@BluejayMBB) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BluejayMBB\/status\/1849065962609221918?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">October 23, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Creighton will face Purdue in a scrimmage on Saturday. That should be a nice way to prepare for the start of the regular season.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Creighton edged out Xavier for the No. 2 spot. Creighton finished with 84 points with Xavier at 82. Xavier&#8217;s <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/zach-freemantle-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zach Freemantle<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/dayvion-mcknight-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dayvion McKnight<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> were second-team picks. <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/ryan-conwell-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ryan Conwell<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> earned third-team honors. Xavier&#8217;s <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/lassina-traore-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Lassina Traore<\/a> will <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.msn.com\/en-us\/health\/other\/xavier-forward-lassina-traore-suffers-season-ending-knee-injury\/ar-AA1sfx57\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">miss the season<\/a> due to injury.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leading scorer <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/kam-jones-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kam Jones<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/david-joplin-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">David Joplin<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> return for a Marquette team that reached the 2024 Big East tournament title game. Something to keep in mind is that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/10\/07\/marquette-scrimmage-takeaways-a-newcomer-shines\/\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Joplin led the way<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with 20 points in the Blue &amp; Gold Scrimmage.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>What About the Wildcats and Red Storm?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">St. John&#8217;s almost landed fourth in the preseason poll. The Red Storm were picked fifth for the second season in a row.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">St. John&#8217;s <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/story\/_\/id\/40101374\/kadary-richmond-transfers-seton-hall-st-johns\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">landed one of the best transfers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> when former Seton Hall star <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/kadary-richmond-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kadary Richmond<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> landed with the Red Storm. Richmond earned preseason first-team recognition. In a <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/redstormsports.com\/news\/2024\/10\/17\/mens-basketball-st-johns-erases-13-point-deficit-in-91-85-victory-at-no-25-rutgers-in-charity-exhibition\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">scrimmage against Rutgers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, returnees <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/zuby-ejiofor-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zuby Ejiofor<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/rj-luis-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RJ Luis Jr.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> combined for 49 points. Also, North Texas transfer <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/aaron-scott-5.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aaron Scott<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> added 10 points in the scrimmage.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Providence, picked to finish sixth, will be led by first-team selection <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/bryce-hopkins-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bryce Hopkins<\/a>. Something to consider is that Hopkins and the Friars will <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/friars.com\/news\/2024\/9\/9\/mens-basketball-mens-basketball-to-face-umass-in-a-charity-exhibition-game-at-amica-mutual-pavilion.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">play an exhibition game<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> against UMass on Saturday.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Villanova returns leading scorer <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/eric-dixon-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eric Dixon.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> However, four of the top five scorers are gone. Dixon will <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/villanova.com\/news\/2024\/10\/14\/mens-soccer-dixon-to-serve-one-game-ncaa-suspension.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">serve a one-game suspension<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for taking part in the Portsmouth Invitational. The Wildcats were active in the transfer portal. Miami&#8217;s <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/wooga-poplar-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wooga Poplar<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Penn&#8217;s <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/tyler-perkins-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tyler Perkins<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and La Salle&#8217;s <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/jhamir-brickus-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jhamir Brickus<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are among the newcomers. <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/kris-parker-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kris Parker<\/a> arrives from Alabama while freshman <a  href=\"https:\/\/villanova.com\/sports\/mens-basketball\/roster\/matthew-hodge\/14321\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Matthew Hodge<\/a> 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.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5287,"featured_media":101046,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,773],"tags":[4738,2960,1451,4446,1450,1744,860,853],"class_list":["post-102663","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-college-basketball","tag-big-east-awards","tag-creighton-bluejays","tag-marquette-golden-eagles","tag-providence","tag-st-johns-red-storm","tag-uconn-huskies","tag-villanova-wildcats","tag-xavier-musketeers"],"modified_by":"Jordan Pagkalinawan, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102663","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5287"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=102663"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102663\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/101046"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=102663"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=102663"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=102663"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}