[Cracked Sidewalks] Big East coaches pick MU third; McNeal/James earn pre-season honors

[CrackedSidewalksSays]

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



http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2007/10/big-east-coaches-pick-mu-third.html

[robmufan]

As shown in the past 2 years, a team like providence that is listed that low can surprise some people and make it somewhere in the top 5.  Im thinking of an MU team that was predicted to get 10th in its first year and then they got fourth.  However, I could see the BE shaping up this way, but I predict us second!

[NYWarrior]

As shown in the past 2 years, a team like providence that is listed that low can surprise some people and make it somewhere in the top 5.  Im thinking of an MU team that was predicted to get 10th in its first year and then they got fourth.  However, I could see the BE shaping up this way, but I predict us second!

Yeah, PC and ND deserved more love IMHO....WVU as well.  They return just about everybody from a bubble team last year -- just not sure how Huggins will adapt to the roster he has

[The Man in Gold]

Probably reading too much into the Coach's picks but I was curious where MU was actually being picked.  I believe the rules said coaches cannot vote for their team so they are essentially ranking 1-15 for everyone else.

2 most likely scenarios:

MU received
2- 2nd Place
9- 3rd
2- 4th
2- 5th
or...
3- 2nd Place
8- 3rd
2- 4th
1- 5th
1- 6th

UL and GU both received 8 - 1st, 6 - 2nd, 1 - 3rd.

[MileHigh]

Notre Dame is definitely not a team to overlook this year.  They are a very young team, kind of like us last year and the year before.