NEW YORK – 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.
UConn standout point guard Silas Demary Jr. was selected as the 2026-27 BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year and teammate Colben Landrew was tabbed as the BIG EAST Preseason Freshman of the Year by the league's 11 head coaches. The coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own players, also voted on the preseason All-BIG EAST first, second, and third teams. In total, 10 of the 16 players selected to the preseason all-conference teams played in the BIG EAST a season ago.
The preseason poll and All-BIG EAST teams were announced Thursday, Oct. 1 at BIG EAST Basketball Media Day in New York City.
2026-27 BIG EAST Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
1) UConn (8) - 98 points
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 Men's Basketball Preseason Honors
PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Silas Demary Jr., UConn, Sr., G, 6-4, 191, Raleigh, N.C.
PRESEASON FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Colben Landrew, UConn, Fr., F, 6-6, 236, McComb, Miss.
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
