BIG EAST Conference Holds Annual Media Day at MSG
Oct 20 | Men's Basketball
NEW YORK, N.Y.– Rutgers men's basketball coach Mike Rice, along with senior captains James Beatty (Wilmington, N.C.), Mike Coburn (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) and Jonathan Mitchell (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) were the Scarlet Knights' representatives at the annual BIG EAST Conference Men's Basketball Media Day, held today at Madison Square Garden. RU was selected 15th in the league’s preseason poll, which was voted upon by the head coaches.
The event opened with remarks from Commissioner John Marinatto before the players and coaches were interviewed by print, radio and television media. The media turnout was among the largest in league history.
Pittsburgh is the choice to win the 2010-11 BIG EAST men’s basketball regular-season crown in the preseason coaches’ poll. The Panthers, who finished 25-9 overall and tied for second place in the conference at 13-5 last season, collected 12 first-place votes from the head coaches who did not place their own teams on their ballots.
Georgetown guard Austin Freeman has been named 2010-11 BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year by a vote of the league’s head coaches. It is the sixth time in league history that a Georgetown standout has captured BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year honors.
Syracuse freshman Fab Melo was chosen BIG EAST Preseason Rookie of the Year. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players.
2010-11 Preseason Coaches’ Poll
Pts.
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
First-place votes in parentheses
2010-11 BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year
Austin Freeman, Georgetown
2010-11 BIG EAST Preseason Rookie of the Year
Fab Melo, Syracuse
2010-11 Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team
Austin Freeman, Georgetown (Player of the Year), G, Sr., 6-3 ½, 227, Mitchellville, Md.
Kemba Walker, Connecticut, G, Jr., 6-1, 172, Bronx, N.Y.
Ashton Gibbs, Pittsburgh, G, Jr., 6-2, 190, Scotch Plains, N.J.
Jeremy Hazell, Seton Hall, G, Sr., 6-5, 188, Bronx, N.Y.
Corey Fisher, Villanova, G, Sr., 6-1, 200, Bronx, N.Y.
Kevin Jones, West Virginia, F, Jr., 6-8, 255, Mount Vernon, N.Y.
2010-11 Preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team
Chris Wright, Georgetown, G, Sr., 6-1, 208, Washington, D.C.
Jimmy Butler, Marquette, F, Sr., 6-7, 220, Tomball, Texas
Tim Abromaitis, Notre Dame, F, Sr., 6-8, 235, Unionville, Conn.
D.J. Kennedy, St. John’s, G/F, Sr., 6-5, 214, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Kris Joseph, Syracuse, F, Jr., 6-7, 207, Montreal, Quebec
2010-11 Preseason All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention
Yancy Gates, Cincinnati, F, Sr., 6-9, 260, Cincinnati, Ohio
Darius Johnson-Odom, Marquette, G, Jr., 6-2, 215, Raleigh, N.C.
Rick Jackson, Syracuse, F, Sr., 6-9, 240, Philadelphia, Pa.
