Villanova, the reigning NCAA champion, has been selected to win the 2018-19 BIG EAST regular-season crown in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
Villanova Picked First in Preseason Coaches’ Poll Again
NEW YORK – Villanova, the reigning NCAA champion, has been selected to win the 2018-19 BIG EAST regular-season crown in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The Wildcats received eight first-place votes from the league’s head coaches and a total of 79 points in the poll. Marquette and Butler received one first-place vote. Coaches do not place their own teams on their ballots.
The coaches have placed the Wildcats in the top spot for five straight seasons. Villanova had won a league-record four straight BIG EAST crowns outright before finishing second to Xavier last year. Villanova was 14-4 in league play last season, one game behind the Musketeers. The Wildcats won the BIG EAST Tournament and went on to capture their second national championship in three years, finishing with a 36-4 record. Over the last five years, Villanova is 77-13 in regular-season competition.
The Wildcats return two starters from last year’s team that included four NBA draft picks. Forward Eric Paschall is back after averaging 10.6 points and 5.3 rebounds. Guard Phil Booth averaged 10.0 points and added 95 assists to only 45 turnovers. Both are seniors. Guard Collin Gillespie and forwards Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree and Jermaine Samuels will push for more prominent roles. Villanova also has a heralded recruiting class expected to compete for some available playing time.
Marquette was picked second in the poll, the highest preseason poll position for the Golden Eagles since they were tabbed for first in 2013-14. Marquette finished 21-14 overall and 9-9 in BIG EAST play last season and welcomes back four starters and two transfers who are expected to play significant roles. Guard Maurice Howard was an All-BIG EAST Second Team selection after averaging 20.4 points and shooting 40.4 percent from 3-point range. Teammate Sam Hauser was third in the nation in 3–point shooting, making 48.7 percent. The junior forward averaged 14.1 points and 5.7 rebounds. The two transfers are forward Ed Morrow and guard Joseph Chartouny.
Providence was tabbed for third place, the Friars’ highest preseason poll position in the BIG EAST’s current 10-team alignment. The Friars are riding a school record of five straight NCAA Tournaments. This year, Providence can look to Alpha Diallo, one of the league’s most versatile players. Last year. The 6-7 guard averaged 13.2 points and 6.6 rebounds. Center Emmitt Holt returns after missing last season with an abdominal injury. He averaged 12.4 points and 5.4 rebounds two seasons ago.
St. John’s placed fourth in the poll, one point behind Providence. The Red Storm have a nucleus of three quality starters. Junior guard Shamorie Ponds led the league in scoring in all games with a 21.6 average. He ranked second in the BIG EAST in steals (2.3) and fifth in assists (4.7). Junior guard Justin Simon averaged 12.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and his steal mark of 2.5 led the BIG EAST. Senior forward Marvin Clark II averaged 12.5 points, which included 65 3-pointers, and 4.7 boards. The Johnnies may have as many as seven newcomers battle for some available playing time. They got a boost when Auburn transfer Mustapha Heron was granted a legislative relief waiver by the NCAA and will be eligible this season.
Butler is predicted to finish fifth. Under new coach LaVall Jordan last year, the Bulldogs finished 21-14 and made their fourth straight NCAA Tournament. This season, junior guard Kamar Baldwin will lead Butler after averaging 15.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.5 steals. Senior guard Paul Jorgensen (10.2), forward Sean McDermott (7.5, 3.9) and guard Aaron Thompson (4.3) all have starting experience. Center Nate Fowler (5.9, 3.1) will likely move into a starting role. Six returnees averaged at least 15 minutes last season. A promising group of newcomers includes transfer forward Jordan Tucker.
Xavier is slotted for sixth place. Last year, the Musketeers won the BIG EAST regular-season crown with a 15-3 record, finished 29-6 overall and earned the first NCAA Tournament No. 1 seed in school history. New coach Travis Steele has to replace some key contributors, but should be able to count on a strong perimeter game to stay successful. Starting point guard Quentin Goodin averaged 8.7 points and 4.9 assists. Forward Naji Marshall and guard Paul Scruggs excelled as freshmen. Marshall averaged 7.7 points and 4.4 rebounds. Scruggs averaged 4.9 points coming off the bench. Forward Tyrique Jones averaged 7.0 points and 4.5 boards while starting 19 games.
Georgetown is seventh in the poll. Last year, the Hoyas finished 15-15 overall with a young roster. Coach Patrick Ewing enters his second season with senior Jessie Govan, another standout in the long line of outstanding Hoya big men, along with a maturing supporting cast. Govan is the only BIG EAST returning player who averaged a double-double last season with marks of 17.9 points and 10.0 rebounds. Kaleb Johnson (7.9, 4.2) is a returning starter at forward. Last year, forward Jamorko Pickett (9.6, 3.7) and guard Jahvon Blair (9.0) were BIG EAST All-Freshman Team selections.
Seton Hall is picked for eighth place. The Pirates are coming off their third straight trip to NCAA Tournament and third straight season of double-digit BIG EAST wins. This year, coach Kevin Willard has to replace a veteran group of four seniors who won 84 games and scored 5,524 points. One of the new leaders will be junior guard Myles Powell who averaged 15.5 points and was named BIG EAST Most Improved Player. Forward Michael Nzei averaged 3.9 points and 3.9 rebounds while making 17 starts. Sophomore wing Myles Cale (4.3) may move into a starting role along with a pair of transfers – forward Taurean Thompson and guard Quincy McKnight.
Creighton was chosen ninth, one point behind Seton Hall. The Bluejays are coming off a 21-12 season that included an NCAA Tournament bid. They have won 20 or more games in 18 of the last 20 years. This year, the Bluejays will turn to forward Martin Krampelj, who averaged 11.9 points and 8.1 rebounds before going down with a knee injury. Forward Jacob Epperson showed promise late last year and averaged 6.3 points. Starting point guard Davion Mintz averaged 6.1 points and led the BIG EAST in assist/turnover ratio at 2.8. Mitch Ballock made the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team while averaging 7.3 points. Newcomers include 7-0 Samson Froling, who may earn immediate playing time.
DePaul was 10th in the poll. The Blue Demons can count on forward Max Strus and guard Eli Cain as their cornerstones while working to move up in the standings. Strus averaged 16.8 points and 5.6 rebounds. Cain, a three-year starter, averaged 11.7 points and 4.7 assists. The Blue Demons welcome back guard Devin Gage who missed last season with an Achilles’ injury. Transfer Jalen Coleman-Lands should offer immediate help on the wing. Graduate transfer Femi Olujobi should step in at center.
2018-19 Preseason Coaches’ Poll
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Points |
| 1. Villanova (8) |
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| 2. Marquette (1) |
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| 3. Providence |
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| 4. St. John’s |
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| 5. Butler (1) |
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| 6. Xavier |
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| 7. Georgetown |
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| 8. Seton Hall |
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| 9. Creighton |
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| 10. DePaul |
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First-place votes in parentheses.