The Wildcats, who proved the coaches prophetic last season by winning their second consecutive crown with a 16-2 mark, received all nine possible first-place votes for 81 points, the conference announced at its preseason media day Wednesday in New York. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their teams.
MORE: SN’s preseason All-Americans | Best programs since 2000 Coaches also voted Providence guard Kris Dunn the Preseason Player of the Year and Villanova guard Jalen Brunson was chosen Preseason Freshman of the Year.
Coach Jay Wright’s team returns only two starters from last year’s team that went 33-3 overall — the most victories in school history — and also won the Big East Tournament before bowing out in the second round of the NCAA Tournament with senior guard Ryan Arcidiacono, the Big East Co-Player of the Year who averaged 10.1 points per game, and senior forward Daniel Ochefu (9.2 points, 8.5 rebounds per game).
For a second straight season, Georgetown was picked to finish second, followed, in order, by Butler, Xavier, Providence, Marquette, Seton Hall, DePaul, Creighton and St. John’s.
Dunn, a 6-4 junior who shared Big East Player of the Year honors with Arcidiacono, already has been mentioned on numerous Preseason All-America teams. Dunn, who averaged 15.6 points, 7.5 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 2.7 steals, was the first guard in Big East history to earn Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards in the same season.
MORE: 99 things to be excited about this college hoops season Villanova’s Brunson, a heralded 6-2 guard from Lincolnshire, Ill., already has earned praise by helping the USA Basketball U-19 team win a gold medal at the World Championships over the summer.
2015-16 Big East Preseason Player of the Year Kris Dunn, Providence, G, Jr., 6-4, 220, New London, Conn. 2015-16 Big East Preseason Freshman of the Year Jalen Brunson, Villanova, G, Fr., 6-2, 199, Lincolnshire, Ill. 2015-16 Preseason All-Big East First Team Kellen Dunham, Butler, G, Sr., 6-6, 200, Pendleton, Ind. Roosevelt Jones, Butler, F, Sr., 6-4, 225, O’Fallon, Ill. D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera, Georgetown, G, Sr., 6-3, 214, Indianapolis Ryan Arcidiacono, Villanova, G, Sr., 6-3, 195, Langhorne, Pa. Jalen Reynolds, Xavier, F, Jr., 6-10, 232, Detroit 2015-16 Preseason All-Big East Second Team Billy Garrett, Jr., DePaul, G, Jr., 6-6, 205, Chicago. Henry Ellenson, Marquette, F, Fr., 6-10, 245, Rice Lake, Wis. Angel Delgado, Seton Hall, F, So., 6-9, 230, Bajos De Haina, Dominican Republic Isaiah Whitehead, Seton Hall, G, So., 6-4, 210, Brooklyn Daniel Ochefu, Villanova, F, Sr., 6-11, 245, Baltimore
