Defending BIG EAST champion St. John's was the coaches pick to win the conference title in a preseason vote of the league's head coaches.
 
Zuby Ejiofor of St. John's was tabbed as the BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year.
 
The announcements were made Tuesday morning at BIG EAST Basketball Media Day at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
 
Butler was picked tenth in the preseason poll.
 
Butler enters the 2025-26 season off an appearance in the inaugural College Basketball Crown. Coach Thad Matta's Bulldogs have added five impact transfers in Michael Ajayi (Gonzaga), Yame Butler (Drexel), Jalen Jackson (Purdue Fort Wayne), Drayton Jones (South Carolina State), and Yohan Traore (SMU). That group joins returners Finley Bizjack, who averaged 10.3 points per game for the Bulldogs last season; Jamie Kaiser Jr., who missed the entire 2024-25 season with an ankle injury; and Evan Haywood, who started both College Basketball Crown games. Butler also welcomes a Top 25 recruiting class.
 
The Bulldogs host Indiana State Wednesday, Oct. 29 in the team's second and final exhibition. The regular season is slated to begin Wednesday, Nov. 5 when Southern Indiana visits Hinkle Fieldhouse.
 
2025-26 BIG EAST Men's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Poll

1. St. John's (7) – 97 points
2. UConn (4) - 94
3. Creighton - 80
4. Providence - 64
5. Marquette - 60
6. Georgetown - 57
7. Villanova - 50
8. Xavier - 33
9. DePaul - 29
10. Butler - 26
11. Seton Hall - 15

First place votes in parentheses
 
2025-26 BIG EAST Men's Basketball Preseason Honors

PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Zuby Ejiofor, St. John's, F, Sr., 6-9, 245, Garland, Texas

PRESEASON FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Braylon Mullins, UConn, G, Fr., 6-6, 196, Greenfield, Ind.

PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST FIRST TEAM
Solo Ball, UConn, G, Jr., 6-4, 200, Leesburg, Va.
Alex Karaban, UConn, F, R-Sr., 6-8, 230, Southborough, Mass.
Tarris Reed Jr., UConn, C, Sr., 6-11, 265, St. Louis, Mo.
Owen Freeman, Creighton, F, Jr., 6-10, 240, Moline, Ill.
Chase Ross, Marquette, G, Sr., 6-5, 210, Dallas, Texas
Bryce Hopkins, St. John's, G-F, Sr., 6-7, 220, Oak Park, Ill.

PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST SECOND TEAM
Silas Demary, UConn, G, Jr., 6-4, 195, Raleigh, N.C.
Josh Dix, Creighton, G, Sr., 6-6, 205, Council Bluffs, Iowa
KJ Lewis, Georgetown, G, Jr., 6-4, 210, El Paso, Texas
Jason Edwards, Providence, Gr., G, 6-1, 180, Atlanta, Ga.
Ian Jackson, St. John's, G, So., 6-5, 195, Bronx, N.Y.

PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST THIRD TEAM
Nik Graves, Creighton, G, Sr., 6-2, 190, Durham, N.C.
Jackson McAndrew, Creighton, So., F, 6-10, 225, Wayzata, Minn.
CJ Gunn, DePaul, Sr., G, 6-7, 200, Indianapolis, Ind.
Malik Mack, Georgetown, G, Jr., 6-2, 175, Oxon Hill, Md.
Oswin Erhunmwunse, Providence, F, So., 6-10, 235, Benin City, Nigeria
Dillon Mitchell, St. John's, F, Sr. 6-8, 210, Tampa, Fla.
Joson Sanon, St. John's, G, So., 6-5, 200, Fall River, Mass.