Via Card Chronicle, USA Today released their preseason poll. Their predicted Big East order of finish, First and Second Team, and Player of the Year, after the jump.
1. Syracuse
2. Pittsburgh
3. Connecticut
4. Louisville
5. Marquette
6. Villanova
7. Cincinnati
8. Notre Dame
9. Georgetown
10. West Virginia
11. St. John's
12. Rutgers
13. Seton Hall
14. South Florida
15. Providence
16. DePaul
St. John's at 11th? Despite the thin roster? Obviously, they like the level of talent coming into the program, more than they like Rutgers' and Seton Hall's talent. Talent DOES win ballgames...
Big East First Team
Ashton Gibbs, Pittsburgh (Player of the Year)
Darius Johnson-Odom, Marquette
Tim Abromaitis, Notre Dame
Kris Joseph, Syracuse
Kevin Jones, West Virginia
Big East Second Team
Scoop Jardine, Syracuse
Jason Clark, Georgetown
Cleveland Melvin, DePaul
Herb Pope, Seton Hall
Augustus Gilchrist, South Florida
Next week, when I fire up the blogpoll for first-team picks... well, the results will be different. I think quite a few players will come "out of nowhere" to claim spots on the first and second teams...
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