Even with a 16-team league, I've always been against the ten-man first and second All-Big East teams at the end of the season, because I think it diminishes the honor. Well you know what really diminishes the honor? An 11-man preseason all-conference team.
The 11 lucky selections were:
Roy Hibbert, Sr, C, Georgetown
Jeff Adrien, Jr, F, Connecticut
Jonathan Wallace, Sr, G, Georgetown
Terrence Williams, Jr, F, Louisville
Kentrell Gransberry, Sr, C, South Florida
Scottie Reynolds, So, G, Villanova
Eric Devendorf, Jr, G, Syracuse
David Padgett, Sr, C, Louisville
Geoff McDermott, Jr, F, Providence
Jerel McNeal, Jr, G, Marquette
Dominic James, Jr, G, Marquette
Hibbert, the preseason pick for Player of the Year, and Reynolds were the only two unanimous selections. Edgar Sosa and LeVance Fields received honorable mention, and the Syracuse freshmen duo of Johnny Flynn and Donte Greene were named Preseason Co-Rookies of the Year.
Though not as widely anticipated as its football brethren, EA Sports' March Madness '08 will be released soon, and EA has accordingly unveiled the games' top 25 rankings. Memphis earns the game's top honor, followed by UCLA, Georgetown, North Carolina, Kansas and Louisville.
Fans will have the opportunity to download a demo of the game for the PS3 at the PLAYSTATION Store and for the Xbox 360 from Xbox Live Marketplace in November. This demo will feature the sixth ranked Cards against No. 8 (???) Kentucky.
Reigning Big East Player of the Year Angel McCoughtry was selected as the conference's Preseason Player of the Year at the Big East's Media Day today. The star forward was also a unanimous selection to the All-Conference team. The Cards were picked to finish sixth in the league.
Saturday's game at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium is more than likely a bowl elimination game, and I think you'll all be happy to know that ALL SIX of the sports reporters at TyronePA.com believe the Cards will prevail.
I'm not a huge fan of much of what Steve Kragthorpe has done since he's been here, but naming Mike Donoghue as a student assistant coach is a wonderful gesture. Kudos to Koach.
Samardo Samuels put on yet another show at the IS8 playoffs last weekend, as Brian Crownover can attest to.
Lastly, here's a nice piece on T-Will and the Cards from Lindsey Willhite of USA Today.