Big East coaches pick MU third; McNeal/James earn pre-season honors

The pre-season Big East coaches' poll is out. Georgetown and Louisville were picked as co-champs, while MU was picked to finish third overall. I am shocked that the coaches think so little of Notre Dame and Providence. Those are NCAA tourney-caliber teams this year.

In terms of individual honors, Georgetown's Roy Hibbert was selected as the Big East pre-season Player of the Year. Dominic James and Jerel McNeal were selected to the 10-man pre-season All-Big East squad. Once again, Wesley Matthews was ignored. Fuel for the fire, I say.

2007-08 Preseason Coaches’ Poll

1. Georgetown (8) 217
Louisville (8) 217
3. Marquette 191
4. Pittsburgh 170
5. Syracuse 153
6. Connecticut 149
7. Villanova 143
8. Providence 141
9. Notre Dame 122
10. West Virginia 112
11. DePaul 79
12. Cincinnati 62
13. Seton Hall 56
14. St. John’s 52
15. Rutgers 32
16. USF 23


2007-08 Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
*Roy Hibbert, Georgetown (Player of the Year), C, Sr., 7-2, 278, Adelphi, Md.
Jeff Adrien, Connecticut, F, Jr., 6-7, 238, Brookline, Mass.
Jonathan Wallace, Georgetown, G, Sr. 6-1, 188, Harvest, Ala.
David Padgett, Louisville, C, Sr., 6-11, 245, Reno, Nev.
Terrence Williams, Louisville, F, Jr., 6-6, 210, Seattle, Wash.
Dominic James, Marquette, G, Jr., 5-11, 185, Richmond, Ind.
Jerel McNeal, Marquette, G, Jr., 6-3, 200, Chicago, Ill.
Geoff McDermott, Providence, F, Jr., 6-7, 230, New Rochelle, N.Y.
Kentrell Gransberry, USF, C, Sr., 6-9, 270, Baton Rouge, La.
Eric Devendorf, Syracuse, G, Jr., 6-4, 180, Bay City, Mich.
*Scottie Reynolds, Villanova, G, So., 6-2, 195, Herndon, Va.

* denotes unanimous selections.