Jan. 4, 2012

click here for coaches' preseason All-Big East team

After consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, St. John’s has been picked as the favorite in the Big East preseason poll in voting by the league’s head coaches, who could not vote for their own teams, as released by the conference office.

The Red Storm picked up eight of a possible 11 first-place votes and totaled 118 points. St. John’s has advanced to the NCAA tourney in four of the past five seasons. The Red Storm returns six position starters and its entire starting pitching rotation.

Louisville received the remaining four first-place votes and placed second with 110 points. Connecticut, last season’s regular-season champion, sat third with 92 points, just ahead of USF with 88 points. Seton Hall, last year’s Big East tourney champ, came in fifth with 77 points, followed by Notre Dame, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, West Virginia, Villanova and Georgetown.

The 2012 campaign commences on Friday, Feb. 17, as nine of the teams head to the Gulf Coast of Florida for the fourth annual Big Ten/Big East Challenge. The first weekend of conference action is March 23-25, with all 12 teams involved. The 2012 Big East Tournament returns to Bright House Field in Clearwater, Fla., on May 23-27. The championship game will televised on ESPNU.

2012 Big East Preseason Poll

Team, Points (First Place) (2011 Big East, Overall Records)

 1.  St. John’s, 118 (8) (18-8, 36-22)

 2.  Louisville, 110 (4) (14-13, 32-29)

 3.  Connecticut, 92 (22-5, 45-20-1)

 4.  USF, 88 (13-14, 25-29)

 5.  Seton Hall, 77 (14-13, 34-25)

 6.  Notre Dame, 69 (13-13, 23-29-1)

 7.  Cincinnati, 64 (14-13, 30-27)

 8.  Pittsburgh, 60 (16-11, 33-23)

 9.  Rutgers, 42 (11-16, 20-30)

10. West Virginia, 39 (14-13, 28-27)

11. Villanova, 19 (7-20, 20-32)

12. Georgetown, 14 (5-22, 23-33)