Rutgers Tabbed 11th in Preseason BIG EAST Coaches' Poll
Oct 19 | Men's Basketball
NEW YORK, N.Y.– Rutgers men's basketball coach Mike Rice, along with junior wing Dane Miller (Rochester, N.Y.) and sophomore forward Gilvydas Biruta (Jonava, Lithuania), were the Scarlet Knights' representatives at the annual BIG EAST Conference Men's Basketball Media Day, held today at the New York Athletic Club. RU was selected 11th in the league’s preseason poll, which was voted upon by the head coaches.
The 11th place prediction marked the Scarlet Knights’ highest position in the poll since the BIG EAST became a 16-team conference in 2005-06.
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.
Connecticut and Syracuse are the co-favorites to win the 2011-12 BIG EAST men’s basketball regular-season crown. The Huskies, who won the 2011 NCAA national championship, received seven first-place votes and a total of 209 points. The Orange, who finished last season with a 27-8 record, collected five first-place votes. It is the third tie for first place in the history of the BIG EAST with the last coming in 2007-08. The league’s head coaches do not place their own teams on their ballots.
Pittsburgh guard Ashton Gibbs was named 2011-12 BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year. It is the fifth time in league history that a Pittsburgh player has captured BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year honors.
Connecticut freshman center Andre Drummond was chosen BIG EAST Preseason Rookie of the Year. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players.
2011-12 Preseason Coaches’ Poll
Pts.
1. Connecticut (7) 209
Syracuse (5) 209
3. Louisville (3) 201
4. Pittsburgh (1) 188
5. Cincinnati 169
6. Marquette 155
7. West Virginia 132
8. Villanova 127
9. Notre Dame 114
10. Georgetown 104
11. Rutgers 75
12. St. John’s 71
13. Seton Hall 56
14. USF 43
15. Providence 40
16. DePaul 27
First-place votes in parentheses
2011-12 BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year
Ashton Gibbs, Pittsburgh
2011-12 BIG EAST Preseason Rookie of the Year
Andre Drummond, Connecticut
2011-12 Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team
Ashton Gibbs, Pittsburgh (Player of the Year), G, Sr., 6-2, 190, Scotch Plains, N.J.
Jeremy Lamb, Connecticut, G/F, So., 6-5, 185, Norcross, Ga.
Darius Johnson-Odom, Marquette, G, Sr., 6-2, 215, Raleigh, N.C.
Tim Abromaitis, Notre Dame, F, Gr., 6-8, 235, Unionville, Conn.
Kris Joseph, Syracuse, F, Sr., 6-7, 210, Montreal, Quebec
Kevin Jones, West Virginia, F, Sr., 6-8, 260, Mount Vernon, N.Y.
2011-12 Preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team
Yancy Gates, Cincinnati, F, Sr., 6-9, 260, Cincinnati, Ohio
Alex Oriakhi, Connecticut, F/C, Jr., 6-9, 240, Lowell, Mass.
Peyton Siva, Louisville, G, Jr., 5-11, 180, Seattle, Wash.
Scoop Jardine, Syracuse, G, Sr., 6-2 190, Philadelphia, Pa.
Maalik Wayns, Villanova, G, Jr., 6-2, 200, Philadelphia, Pa.
2011-12 Preseason All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention
Andre Drummond, Connecticut, C, Fr., 6-11, 275, Middletown, Conn.
Shabazz Napier, Connecticut, G, So. 6-0, 170, Roxbury, Mass.
Cleveland Melvin, DePaul, F, So., 6-8, 208, Baltimore, Md.
Jae Crowder, Marquette, F, Sr., 6-6, 235, Villa Rica, Ga.
Augustus Gilchrist, USF, F/C, Sr., 6-10, 245, Clinton, Md.
