Big East Predictions

In the annual pre-season Big East coaches' poll, the Pittsburgh Panters were tabbed as the team to beat while Aaron Gray was selected as the POY. Marquette's Dominic James, as well as the Georgetown duo of Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert were also unanimous pre-season All-Big East selections.

The coaches predict that the Panthers will win the title, followed by Georgetown, Syracuse and Marquette. MU received one first place vote. Here's a link to the AP story.

Meanwhile the Big East writers put James and Gray in a dead heat for Big East POY. MU was picked for a fouth-place league finish, behind Pittsburgh, Georgetown and UConn. Here's a link to the article about the writers' choices.

GoMarquette has a full breakdown of the votes here.

2006-07 BIG EAST Preseason Poll
1. Pittsburgh (10), 219
2. Georgetown (4), 212
3. Syracuse (1), 182
4. Marquette (1), 181
5. Connecticut, 173
6. Louisville, 149
7. Villanova, 146
8. DePaul, 134
9. St. John's, 105
10. Providence, 102
11. Notre Dame, 80
12. West Virginia, 72
13. Cincinnati, 52
14. Rutgers, 49
15. Seton Hall, 42
16. USF, 22

2006-07 Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
*Aaron Gray, Pittsburgh (Player of the Year), C, Sr., 7-0, 270, Emmaus, Pa.
Jeff Adrien, Connecticut, F, So., 6-7, 245, Brookline, Mass.
Wilson Chandler, DePaul, F, So., 6-8, 210, Benton Harbor, Mich.
Sammy Mejia, DePaul, G, Sr., 6-6, 195, Bronx, N.Y.
*Jeff Green, Georgetown, F, Jr., 6-9, 235, Hyattsville, Md.
*Roy Hibbert, Georgetown, C, Jr., 7-2, 283, Adelphi, Md.
Juan Palacios, Louisville, F, Jr., 6-8, 245, Medelin, Columbia
*Dominic James, Marquette, G, So., 5-11, 175, Richmond, Ind.
Lamont Hamilton, St. John's, F, Sr., 6-10, 253, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Terrence Roberts, Syracuse, F, Sr., 6-9, 235, Jersey City, N.J.
Curtis Sumpter, Villanova, F, Sr., 6-7, 220, Brooklyn, N.Y.
*unanimous selection

2006-07 BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year
Aaron Gray, Pittsburgh

2006-07 BIG EAST Preseason Rookie of the Year
Paul Harris, Syracuse

2006-07 Preseason All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention
David Padgett, Louisville, F/C, Jr., 6-11, 250, Reno, Nev.
Colin Falls, Notre Dame, G, Sr., 6-5, 200, Park Ridge, Ill.
Eric Devendorf, Syracuse, G, So., 6-4, 175, Bay City, Mi