Oct. 19, 2011

STORRS, Conn. - It was announced today at BIG EAST Conference media day at the New York Athletic Club in New York City that UConn is the co-favorite, along with Syracuse, to win the BIG EAST regular season crown according to the Preseason Coach's Poll. UConn sophomore Jeremy Lamb was named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team. Freshman Andre Drummond was named the league's Preseason Rookie of the Year. Pittsburgh senior Ashton Gibbs was named Preseason Player of the Year.

Connecticut, the 2011 NCAA Champions, received seven first-place votes and a total of 209 points. Syracuse, the team UConn defeated in the BIG EAST Semifinals a year ago, tallied 209 points and five first-place votes. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team. UConn will host Syracuse in the ESPN College Gameday special in Gampel Pavilion on Saturday, February 25. The two teams will also play at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse on February 11.

Louisville was right behind with three first-place votes and 201 points. Pittsburgh earned one first-place vote, finishing with 188 points to place fourth.

Connecticut had four players earn preseason honors today. Along with Lamb on the First Team, junior big man Alex Oriakhi was named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team. Sophomore Shabazz Napier and Drummond were both named Preseason All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention. Drummond is the only freshman in the league this year to earn Preseason All-BIG EAST honors.

Lamb was the only underclassman on the All-BIG EAST Preseason First Team. He was joined by Preseason Player of the Year Ashton Gibbs of Pittsburgh, Notre Dame graduate student Tim Abromaitis and seniors Darius Johnson-Odom (Marquette), Kris Joseph (Syracuse) and Kevin Jones (West Virginia).

Ashton Gibbs, Pittsburgh

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.

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.

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.

Team                         	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