The Syracuse Post-Standard has released its annual media preseason Big East poll and the Huskies have been picked to finish ninth in the now 15-team league. The coaches will release their poll tomorrow as part of Big East media day.
Ninth seems like a fair position for the Huskies, who have one of stronger backcourts in the Big East with Shabazz Napier, Ryan Boatright and Omar Calhoun, but are facing a lot of questions up front. Oh, and they'll also be playing without Jim Calhoun for the first time in 27 years and are banned from the postseason -- those might be factors too.
If everything went perfect for UConn this series you could see the Huskies climbing up a few spots -- finishing fifth or sixth in the league would be an unqualified success -- but right now 9th feels about right to me. What are your thoughts?
1. Louisville 15 (15 1st-place votes)
2. Syracuse 33
3. Notre Dame 49
4. Cincinnati 63
5. Pittsburgh 78
6. Georgetown 97
7. Marquette 109
8. South Florida 123
9. Connecticut 159
10. St. John's 163
11. Rutgers 167
12. Villanova 171
13. Providence 176
14. Seton Hall 188
15. DePaul 209