(BIG EAST) – UConn has been chosen to finish first in the 2026-27 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
The Huskies received eight of a possible 10 first-place votes from the league’s head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own teams.
Last year, the Huskies made their third Final Four and National Championship game appearances over the last four seasons. Head coach Dan Hurley’s squad will be led by a pair of All-BIG EAST selections from a season ago. Silas Demary Jr. – the 2026-27 preseason BIG EAST Player of the Year – was a first team all-league pick last year, averaging 10.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. The senior floor general is the lone returning player on the 2025-26 All-BIG EAST first team. Sophomore Braylon Mullins, an All-Freshman team pick last season, averaged 12.0 points and 3.5 boards per outing and was a unanimous selection to the preseason 2026-27 All-BIG EAST first team. Classmate Na’jai Hines – a transfer forward from Seton Hall – was tabbed as a preseason second team all-league
selection.
St. John’s was picked second in the preseason poll, earning two first-place votes. A season ago, the Red Storm became the first school in BIG EAST history to capture back-to-back outright regular season and conference tournament titles. The win at Madison Square Garden was the fifth tournament title for the Johnnies as they advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999. Head coach Rick Pitino has a pair of preseason first team all-conference selections – Tounde Yessoufou and Ian Jackson. Yessoufou was a unanimous selection to the preseason All-BIG EAST first team. The 6-5 sophomore averaged 17.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 2.0 steals at Baylor a season ago. Jackson averaged nearly 10.0 points in 18 minutes per game for the Red Storm last year.
Villanova sits in third on the league’s predicted order of finish. The Wildcats made a return to the NCAA Tournament last season, as head coach Kevin Willard guided his squad to 25 wins during his first season on the Main Line. Returning to the Villanova lineup in 2026-27 is preseason first team selection Tyler Perkins. The 2025-26 Most Improved Player award winner and third team All-BIG EAST honoree led the Wildcats in scoring a season ago at 13.7 points per outing. A pair of Nova newcomers were also honored by the coaches, as transfer forwards Kwame Evans Jr. and Devin Royal were named to the preseason All-BIG EAST second team.
Marquette was the coaches’ choice to finish fourth, garnering one first place vote. Head coach Shaka Smart returns a strong nucleus of talent, including standout guard Nigel James Jr. – one of the top returning guards in the country. The BIG EAST Freshman of the Year a season ago, James averaged 16.4 points, 3.4 boards, 4.9 assists, and 2.0 steals and was a unanimous 2026-27 preseason first team all-conference pick. Two teammates have also earned preseason All-BIG EAST accolades – junior
Royce Parham on the second team and senior transfer Sananda Fru on the third team.
Providence was picked fifth on the preseason poll. First-year head coach Bryan Hodgson has rebuilt the Friars’ roster, featuring eight transfers including preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team selection Devin Royal. Malik Mack, who ranked among the top scorers and assist men for Georgetown over the past two seasons, should be a key cog in Providence backcourt. Arrinten Page – a 6-11 transfer – and veteran guard Ryan Mela will be mainstays in the lineup, while highly touted freshman Javon Bardwell takes to the court for the Friars in 2026-27.
Xavier was voted to finish sixth. The Musketeers feature a pair of preseason third team honorees – returnee Jovan Milicevic and transfer forward Mike Nwoko – looking to lead the way for head coach Richard Pitino in his second season. In addition to Nwoko, Xavier welcomes a highly-rated transfer class to the 2026-27 roster, including a trio of guards in Chance Westry, Tru Washington, and Ruben Dominguez.
Creighton is slated for seventh. Head coach Alan Huss has a pair of preseason All-BIG EAST third team selections as a foundation for his first season at the helm of the Bluejays. Jackson McAndrew returns to the lineup after missing much of last season due to injury, while defensive mainstay Oswin Erhunmwunse joins the Jays after two seasons at Providence. Fifth-year forward Jasen Green is among the best all- around players in the conference.
DePaul was selected to finish eighth. Senior guard Layden Blocker was named to the preseason third team after averaging 11.1 points and 3.5 assists a season ago for the Blue Demons. Head coach Chris Holtmann – who led DePaul to its best BIG EAST finish a season ago – welcomes back a balanced roster with veteran returnees and a nationally-ranked transfer class, including 3-point threat Ade Popoola and rim protector Magoon Gwath.
Seton Hall was picked ninth. Shaheen Holloway – the unanimous selection for 2025-26 BIG EAST Coach of the Year – heads into the new season with a slate of 13 newcomers, including nine players from the transfer portal. Roddie Anderson – who spent last season at Xavier – averaged nearly 11.0 points per game last year. Terry Copeland – the 2025-26 NJCAA Division I Player of the Year – returns home to the Garden State to shore up the Pirates’ frontcourt.
Georgetown was 10th on the poll. The Hoyas will rely on returnees Caleb Williams and Kayvaun Mulready, – along with eight newcomers – during the 2026-27 campaign. Head coach Ed Cooley will turn to a trio of highly-rated transfers in the backcourt – Vyctorius Miller, Elmarko Jackson, and Jaland Lowe – while looking for Josiah Parker and Chol Machot to make an impact in the post. Butler was tabbed to finish 11th. First-year head coach Ronald Nored returns a pair of starters in point
guard Jalen Jackson and center Drayton Jones, while welcoming 10 new players to the Bulldogs’ roster for 2026-27. Three-point shooting will again look to be a strength for Butler as the four incoming transfers – Christian Moore, Jordan Ellerbee, Treyson Anderson, and Eduardo Klafke – combined to make 176
shots from the perimeter.
2026-27 BIG EAST Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll
1. UConn (8) 98
2. St. John’s (2) 90
3. Villanova 81
4. Marquette (1) 73
5. Providence 59
6. Xavier 54
7. Creighton 47
8. DePaul 32
9. Seton Hall 31
10. Georgetown 27
11. Butler 13
First place votes in parentheses
2026-27 BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year
Silas Demary Jr. – Senior – Guard – 6-4 – 191 – Raleigh, N.C.
Demary enters the 2026-27 season as one of the top players in the country and should be a fixture on watch lists for every major national award. Last season, the 6-4 point guard appeared in 39 of 40 games and earned a spot on both the All-BIG EAST first team and All-Defensive team. Demary averaged 10.1 points and 4.5 rebounds, while dishing out a league-best 5.9 assists per game. He reached double- figures on 21 occasions; UConn was 17-4 in those games.
2026-27 BIG EAST Preseason Freshman of the Year
Colben Landrew – Freshman – Forward – 6-6 – 236 – McComb, Miss.
Landrew arrives in Storrs as a consensus five-star rated recruit out of Wheeler H.S. in Georgia. The 6-6 forward was named the 2025-26 Gatorade Georgia Boys Basketball Player of the Year and Mr. Georgia Basketball by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. This past June, he shined with Team USA at the FIBA U18 AmeriCup, averaging 11.3 points, 4.6 boards, 1.4 assists, and 1.4 steals in five games.
PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST FIRST TEAM
Braylon Mullins, UConn, So., G, 6-6, 198, Greenfield, Ind. *
Nigel James Jr., Marquette, So., G, 6-0, 195, Huntington, N.Y. *
Ian Jackson, St. John’s, Jr., G, 6-5, 200, Bronx, N.Y.
Tounde Yessoufou, St. John’s, So. G, 6-5, 220, Cotondou, Benin *
Tyler Perkins, Villanova, Sr., G, 6-4, 212, Lorton, Va.
* unanimous selection
PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST SECOND TEAM
Na’jai Hines, UConn, F, So., 6-11, 278, Plainfield, N.J.
Royce Parham, Marquette, Jr., F, 6-9, 235, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Miles Byrd, Providence, Gr., G, 6-6, 200, Stockton, Calif.
Kwame Evans Jr., Villanova, Sr., F, 6-10, 220, Baltimore, Md.
Devin Royal, Villanova, Sr., F, 6-6, 230, Columbus, Ohio
PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST THIRD TEAM
Oswin Erhunmwunse, Creighton, Jr., C, 6-10, 235, Benin City, Nigeria
Jackson McAndrew, Creighton, Jr., F, 6-10, 225, Wayzata, Minn.
Layden Blocker, DePaul, Sr., G, 6-2, 193, Little Rock, Ark.
Sananda Fru, Marquette, Sr., F, 6-11, 250, Berlin, Germany
Jovan Milicevic, Xavier, Jr., F, 6-10, 241, Toronto, Ontario
Mike Nwoko, Xavier, Sr., F, 6-10, 260, Toronto, Ontario
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