Joining Mullin as the other first-year coach in the Big East is DePaul’s Dave Leitao, who is back for his second turn with the Blue Demons.
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The Marquette University women’s basketball team was picked to finish ninth in the BIG EAST Conference, a preseason poll of the league’s head coaches revealed Wednesday afternoon. The Wildcats won the Big East Tournament last season and the conference’s regular season in both of its first two years since realignment reshaped it prior to the 2013-14 campaign – and they’re favored to do so again this season. Arcidiacono was named to the BIG EAST’s preseason all-conference first team, while Ochefu was a second-team pick.
Villanova coach Jay Wright realizes that people want to talk about that game because “we know we get judged by the NCAA tournament publicly”. “What we do control is that we work hard every day”. Creighton followed in fourth with 57 points, squeaking by fifth-place Seton Hall with 55 points. The Hall has been on a roll in its two years under head coach Tony Bozzella, but the 2015 BIG EAST Coach of the Year will be tasked with replacing four starters from last season’s squad, including a pair of unanimous All-BIG EAST First Team selections. The Red Storm are led by senior guard Aliyyah Handford, who was chosen as the conference’s preseason player of the year.
Providence’s Kris Dunn was picked as the Big East preseason player of the year in voting among conference coaches. “They’re going to pressure you, they’re going to be active”.
The Wildcats certainly deserve to retain their spot atop the league.
Handford, a Newark, N.J., native led the league in scoring at 19.3 points per game, while also ranking in the top 10 in rebounding with 6.5 boards per contest.
Meantime, Villanova guard Jalen Brunson was voted Big East freshman of the year. D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera, Georgetown, G, Sr., 6-3, 214, Indianapolis, Ind. Ryan Arcidiacono, Villanova, G, Sr., 6-3, 195, Langhorne, Pa. Jalen Reynolds, Xavier, F, Jr., 6-10, 232, Detroit, Mich.
Last season, DePaul had the BIG EAST’s most points and the highest scoring average in 16 years.
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Of the six Big East teams that were in the NCAA Tournament, Xavier made the deepest run, reaching the Sweet 16. In addition to these accolades, DePaul had its first BIG EAST Player of the Year in Brittany Hrynko, while Podkowa was named the BIG EAST Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. We lost three of them but we brought it. Even in the N.C. State game, we didn’t play well but we brought great effort. I think when you look at it, knowing that you’ve sustained your success and you’re a part of that top echelon of the league, it’s really important to us.
