NEW YORK – Fresh off winning its fourth consecutive BIG EAST Championship title, Georgetown was picked first in the 2023 BIG EAST Men’s Lacrosse Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Hoyas midfielder Graham Bundy, Jr. was named BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Georgetown defender Will Bowen was chosen as the BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Georgetown, the coaches’ unanimous preseason favorite, received five first-place votes and 25 points. With 20 points, Denver was selected second in the poll. Georgetown capped the 2022 campaign 15-2 (5-0 BIG EAST), setting a program record for most wins in a season. Denver finished 9-6 (4-1 BE) a season ago. The Pioneers enter the 2023 season ranked No. 17 in the Inside Lacrosse Preseason Poll, while the Hoyas enter the year ranked No. 3.
Villanova was picked to finish third with 18 points, with Marquette close behind with 13. The Wildcats capped the year 9-6 (3-2 BE) and reached the BIG EAST Championship game. The Golden Eagles closed out the year 4-11 (2-3 BE).
Rounding out the poll were Providence (nine points) and St. John’s (five points).
Along with the preseason coaches’ poll and awards, the BIG EAST also released the coaches’ picks for the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team. Coaches were not permitted to vote for themselves or their players.
Defending BIG EAST Defender of the Year Bowen was selected as the BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. The graduate student anchored the Georgetown defense that led the NCAA in scoring defense (8.18) and ranked third in scoring margin (6.88). Named the 2022 USILA William C. Schmeisser Outstanding Defenseman, he was also an Inside Lacrosse and USA Lacrosse Magazine First Team All-American. Most recently, Bowen was tabbed a 2023 Preseason First Team All-American by USA Lacrosse Magazine.
After claiming BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year honors in 2022, Bundy, Jr. was selected as the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year. A First Team All-American, the graduate student capped the 2022 season with 70 points (45 goals, 25 assists), setting the program record for a midfielder. Following the historic season, he won a gold medal and was named to the All-World Team as captain of Team USA at the 2022 World Lacrosse Men's U21 Championship. Most recently, he was named a Preseason First Team All-American by USA Lacrosse Magazine.
Bowen and Bundy, Jr. were unanimously selected to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team. Additionally, Denver’s JJ Sillstrop (attacker) and Jack DiBenedetto (defender); Georgetown’s James Reilly (face off specialist); Marquette’s Mason Woodward (defender); Villanova’s Matt Campbell (midfielder) were also unanimous.
The full list of the preseason All-BIG EAST team is listed below.
BIG EAST Preseason Men’s Lacrosse Coaches’ Poll
First-place votes in ( )
1. Georgetown (5) 25 pts.
2. Denver 20
3. Villanova (1) 18
4. Marquette 13
5. Providence 9
6. St. John's 5
BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Graham Bundy, Jr., Georgetown, M
BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Will Bowen, Georgetown, D ^
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team*
JJ Sillstrop, Denver, A ^
Tucker Dordevic, Georgetown, A
TJ Haley, Georgetown, A
Bobby O'Grady, Marquette, A
Graham Bundy, Jr., Georgetown, M ^
Declan McDermott, Georgetown, M
Matt Campbell, Villanova, M ^
Jack DiBenedetto, Denver, D ^
Will Bowen, Georgetown, D ^
Mason Woodward, Marquette, D ^
Chef Comizio, Villanova, SSDM
David Lamarca, Marquette, LSM
James Reilly, Georgetown, FOS ^
Jack Thompson, Denver, GK
^ denotes unanimous selection
* There is an extra member on the preseason all-conference team due to a tie in voting