SU Picked Third in BIG EAST Preseason Poll
10/20/2010 10:59:57 AM | Men's Basketball
NEW YORK, NY -- Syracuse was picked to finish third in the BIG EAST Conference according to the results of the league's preseason coaches' poll that was announced at media day on Wednesday. The Orange was also represented on the Preseason All-BIG EAST Conference honors list by three student-athletes. Junior forward Kris Joseph was named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team, senior forward Rick Jackson was an honorable mention selection and freshman center Fab Melo was picked as the BIG EAST Preseason Rookie of the Year.
SU head coach Jim Boeheim, Joseph, Jackson and junior guard Scoop Jardine attended the conference's annual media day at Madison Square Garden along with representatives of the 15 other conference squads.
Pittsburgh was named the favorite to claim the conference championship after receiving 12 first-place votes and 222 points in all. Villanova (208 points, 2 first-place votes) was tabbed as the second pick, followed by Syracuse (187 points), who earned two first-place votes.
Georgetown's Austin Freeman was selected as the BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year. Joining Freeman on the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team were: Kemba Walker (Connecticut), Ashton Gibbs (Pittsburgh), Jeremy Hazell (Seton Hall), Corey Fisher (Villanova) and Kevin Jones (West Virginia).
Joining Joseph on the second team were: Chris Wright (Georgetown), Jimmy Butlery, Marquette, Tim Abromaitis (Notre Dame) and D.J. Kennedy (St. John's).
Yancy Gates (Cincinnati) and Darius Johnson-Odom (Marquette) were honorable mention selections along with Jackson.
Individual game tickets for Syracuse men's basketball are now on sale. Tickets may be purchased online, by phone through Ticketmaster, in the Syracuse area at 315-472-0700, or in person at the Carrier Dome Box Office.
2010-11 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Pittsburgh (12) 222
2. Villanova (1) 208
3. Syracuse (2) 187
4. Georgetown 173
5. West Virginia 164
6. St. John's (1) 145
7. Notre Dame 123
8. Louisville 121
Marquette 121
10. Connecticut 113
11. Seton Hall 104
12. Cincinnati 91
13. USF 54
14. Providence 36
15. Rutgers 32
16. DePaul 26
