NEW YORK – The 2017-18 BIG EAST Preseason Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Poll was unveiled on Wednesday with Marquette the unanimous favorite. The Golden Eagles are the reigning BIG EAST Tournament champions and return four starters and 10 letterwinners from that squad. Marquette earned all 81 available points to sit atop the poll, which was conducted by the league’s head coaches who were not permitted to vote for their own team.
BIG EAST Women’s Basketball
Preseason Coaches’ Poll |
| 1. |
Marquette (9) |
81 |
| 2. |
DePaul (1) |
73 |
| 3. |
Villanova |
61 |
| 4. |
Creighton |
58 |
| 5. |
Georgetown |
43 |
| 6. |
Seton Hall |
40 |
| 7. |
St. John’s |
37 |
| 8. |
Butler |
29 |
| 9. |
Providence |
18 |
| 10. |
Xavier |
10 |
BIG EAST Tournament runner-up and co-regular-season champion DePaul earned the remaining first-place vote and came in second with 73 points. Coming off a trip to the WNIT Semifinals, Villanova placed third with 61 points, while 2017 regular-season co-champion Creighton followed in fourth (58 points). Georgetown rounded out the top five with 43 points, followed by Seton Hall (40 points), St. John’s (37), Butler (29), Providence (18) and Xavier (10).
Marquette is coming off one of its finest seasons in program history, winning its first BIG EAST Tournament title to clinch its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2011. Marquette earned the highest seed (No. 5) in the NCAA Tournament that any BIG EAST team has had since conference realignment before finishing with a 25-8 overall record and 13-5 mark in conference play. The Golden Eagles went a remarkable 6-0 against top-25 teams last year, with a lineup that was predominantly made up of sophomores. That youthful group returns this season, as fourth-year head coach Carolyn Kieger welcomes back three All-BIG EAST honorees, including the 2017-18 unanimous BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year Allazia Blockton, who was an uncontested First Team pick in 2016-17.
DePaul earned at least a share of the BIG EAST regular-season title for a fourth consecutive season, advanced to the BIG EAST Championship final for the third time in four years and earned an NCAA Championship berth for the 15
th consecutive season. The Blue Demons went 27-8 overall and 16-2 in league play despite being without a trio of pivotal players for the majority of the year, two of which were able to redshirt and return for 2017-18. Ashton Millender, who was limited to nine games last season, all during non-conference play, is the top returning scorer after averaging 12.8 points per game.
After winning four consecutive road games to advance to the WNIT Semifinals,
Villanova finished 20-15 overall, including an 11-7 BIG EAST record. The Wildcats return over 90 percent of their scoring from a year ago, including their top six scorers and four starters. Adrianna Hahn highlights that list as the junior sharpshooter made over 45 percent of her attempts from deep in conference play, draining nearly three triples per game.
Claiming a share of the BIG EAST regular-season title for the first time and earning its first NCAA Championship berth since 2013,
Creighton landed fourth in the preseason poll. The Bluejays went 24-8 overall and matched DePaul at 16-2 in conference play. Just two starters return from that Bluejay squad, including All-BIG EAST First Team pick Audrey Faber who led Creighton in scoring with a 12.8 clip in 2016-17.
The Hoyas are coming off back-to-back national postseason berths (WNIT) and will look to continue the trend under first-year head coach James Howard. Previously Georgetown’s associate head coach, Howard inherits a talented bunch, including All-BIG EAST honoree Dionna White. The junior guard led the league in steals last year and was the No. 4 scorer, averaging 15.2 points per game.
Georgetown went 17-13 overall and 9-9 in BIG EAST play last year.
After three consecutive 20-win seasons accompanied by national postseason berths,
Seton Hall suffered its first sub-.500 season in four years. The Pirates are poised for a return to their winning ways in 2017-18, however, with All-BIG EAST honorees JaQuan Jackson (preseason) and Kaela Hilaire (All-Freshman) joined by impact transfers Donnaizha Fountain (Temple) and Taylor Brown (Western Kentucky).
St. John’s will have some bulletin board material with its seventh-place preseason prediction. St. John’s clinched its fourth consecutive 20-win season in 2016-17, going 22-12 overall and 11-7 in BIG EAST play, while earning a national postseason berth (WNIT) for a 10
th consecutive year. Three starters return from that squad, with Akina Wellere being the top returning scorer at 11.3 points per game.
In 2016-17,
Butler suffered from some in-season turmoil due to injuries and transfers, but a more cohesive and experienced bunch makes for a positive outlook in 2017-18. The Bulldogs return their top six scorers from a year ago, headlined by juniors Tori Schickel and Michelle Weaver, and senior Sydney Buck. Butler went 6-25 overall and 2-16 in league play, but won a BIG EAST Tournament game for a second straight year.
Providence saw immediate dividends with the hiring of head coach Jim Crowley. In the Friars’ first season under Crowley’s direction, Providence (12-18, 4-14 BIG EAST) had its most wins, both overall and in BIG EAST play, since 2011-12, and earned its highest league finish since 1997-98. The Friars return a trio of starters from 2016-17, including team-leading scorer Jovana Nogic who drained a program-record 91 triples a season ago.
Xavier will be a young team in 2017-18, returning just one starter in Kindell Fincher. Redshirt junior Imani Partlow and senior Anniina Aijanen also played valuable minutes a season ago. The Musketeers (12-18, 4-14 BIG EAST) welcome six newcomers, highlighted by 2016 West Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year Jordyn Dawson.