Just as last year’s end of the season 2022-2023 All-Big East Teams were named, Bryce Hopkins was once again named to the First Team and Devin Carter was named as an Honorable Mention selection for the Pre-Season All Big East Teams for the upcoming 2023-2024 season. Marquette’s Tyler Kolek, the reigning Big East Player of the Year was chosen to repeat and the rest of the first team shook out as such:
Kolek and Hopkins were the only two players to be unanimous selections on the First Team last season, so the two of them being chosen to repeat on the First Team squad is expected. Kalkbrenner is also back on the team with new selections Trey Alexander (Honorable Mention last year), Joel Soriano (2nd Team last year), and Justin Moore (not selected). I fully expect Justin Moore to play like a First Team All-Big East player now that he is back to full health for the start of this season. Here is how the rest of the selections broke down.
Second Team
Donovan Clingan, UConn
Baylor Scheierman, Creighton
Oso Ighodaro, Marquette
Kam Jones, Marquette
Eric Dixon, Villanova
Honorable Mention
Alex Karaban, UConn
Devin Carter, Providence
Zach Freemantle, Xavier – who must have been selected before it was announced that he will miss the upcoming season. Dude has had a rough go with injuries.
Freshman of the Year
Stephon Castle, UConn
I’m not sure why the don’t select three teams like the do for All-Americans and I certainly hate the fact that the Player of the Year is not included on the First Team, which technically consists of 6 players.
As for the Pre-Season Team Rankings, Providence slotted in at number seven, which if I were to take a guess, would be because they have an unproven coach in his first year in a big time conference in Kim English.
The Friars tend to thrive in the underdog role, so I’m all for it. From a pure talent standpoint, the Friars should at least be in the top 5 of the conference, especially with both Zach Freemantle and Jerome Hunter slated to each miss the entire 2023-2024 season. The Friars have finished higher than their pre-season ranking 5 times since the ‘New’ Big East realignment. Kevin Farrahar of Friar Basketball broke down some fun and interesting facts about Big East pre-season rankings vs. end of the season rankings.
But this one was my personal favorite factoid…
I’ll be putting together my own pre-season teams soon and I can assure you, each of the teams will only have 5 (!) players apiece.
The Morning Hangover 