In the annual preseason voting, the BIG EAST coaches picked Butler to finish sixth in the upcoming 2016-17 season, while junior forward Kelan Martin was selected to the five-member Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team. The preseason poll and All-BIG EAST teams were announced Tuesday (Oct. 11) at Madison Square Garden in New York City as part of the conference's annual Media Day.
 
"As a team, we are going to have to work incredibly hard each and every day to contend at the top of the BIG EAST, which continues to be one of the top three or four deepest conferences in the country," said Butler coach Chris Holtmann.
 
While picked just outside the top half of the BIG EAST, Holtmann's Bulldogs are in search of their third consecutive strong season as Holtmann enters his third season as head coach. The Bulldogs have tied for second and tied for fourth in the BIG EAST in Holtmann's two seasons, also advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament both years.
 
Martin was an All-BIG EAST second team honoree following the 2015-16 season when his 15.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game ranked seventh and eighth, respectively, in the BIG EAST. He led Butler in scoring in 14 games, including a career-high 35 points against Georgetown, Feb. 2, 2016. Martin posted eight double-doubles and 26 double-figure scoring performances on the season, earning BIG EAST Player of the Week honors twice. He is one of only four players who earned first or second team All-BIG EAST accolades in 2015-16 to return for the 2016-17 campaign.
 
"One of the things I really appreciate about Kelan is he recognizes preseason honors are a byproduct of past performance as well as team success, and he is hungry to continue to move forward as a veteran player and leader after a very impactful sophomore season in BIG EAST play," said Holtmann.
 
The 2016-17 Bulldogs return three starters from last season's team that finished the 2015-16 campaign with a 22-11 record. The Bulldogs also add a recruiting class ranked in the Top 25 by several outlets. The Bulldogs' 79.9 points per game a season ago ranked in the Top 25 nationally. 
 
Defending NCAA national champion Villanova, led by BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year Josh Hart, was selected as the preseason favorite. A full listing of preseason honors and the preseason poll follows.

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2016-17 Preseason Coaches' Poll

1. Villanova (9) - 81 points
2. Xavier (1) - 69
3. Creighton - 64
T4. Georgetown - 53
T4. Seton Hall - 53
6. Butler - 44
7. Marquette - 35
8. St. John's - 21
9. Providence - 18
10. DePaul - 12

(First-place votes in parentheses.)
 
BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year
Josh Hart, Villanova, G, Sr., 6-5, 215, Silver Spring, Md.
 
BIG EAST Preseason Freshman of the Year
Shamorie Ponds, St. John's, G, Fr., 6-1, 165, Brooklyn, N.Y.
 
BIG EAST Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team
Kelan Martin, Butler, F, Jr., 6-7, 220, Louisville, Ky.
Maurice Watson Jr., Creighton, G, Sr., 5-10, 175, Philadelphia, Pa.
Kris Jenkins, Villanova, F, Sr., 6-6, 235, Upper Marlboro, Md.
Trevon Bluiett, Xavier, G, Jr., 6-6, 205, Indianapolis, Ind.
Edmond Sumner, Xavier, G, So., 6-6, 183, Detroit, Mich.
 
BIG EAST Preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team
Billy Garrett, Jr., DePaul, G, Sr., 6-6, 210, Chicago, Ill.
Isaac Copeland, Georgetown, F, Jr., 6-9, 220, Raleigh, N.C.
Luke Fischer, Marquette, C, Sr., 6-11, 250, Germantown, Wis.
Khadeen Carrington, Seton Hall, G, Jr., 6-4, 195, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Angel Delgado, Seton Hall, F, Jr., 6-10, 240, Bajos De Haina, Dominican Republic
 
Preseason All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention
Marcus Foster, Creighton, G, Jr., 6-3, 210, Wichita Falls, Texas
L.J. Peak, Georgetown, F, Jr., 6-5, 215, Gaffney, S.C.
Jalen Brunson, Villanova, G, So., 6-2, 190, Lincolnshire, Ill.