West Virginia was slotted for fifth place in th voting, which did not allow coaches to select their own teams. The Mountaineers won their
first Big East championship and advanced to the NCAA Final
Four. WVU’s final record was 31-7 overall, including 13-5 in
conference play.
Kevin Jones helped spark the
Mountaineers’ run to the NCAA Final Four last year and the school’s
first Big East Championship crown. A 6-8 junior forward from Mount
Vernon, N.Y., Jones averaged 13.5 points and 7.2 rebounds. WVU finished
the season with a 31-7 record.
First Place Votes in Parentheses
The complete list of preseason selections:
Player of the Year
Austin Freeman, Georgetown
Preseason Rookie of the Year
Fab Melo, Syracuse
First Team
Austin Freeman, Georgetown (Player of the Year), G, Sr., 6-3 ½, 227,
Mitchellville, Md.
Kemba Walker, Connecticut, G, Jr., 6-1, 172, Bronx, N.Y.
Ashton Gibbs, Pittsburgh, G, Jr., 6-2, 190, Scotch Plains, N.J.
Jeremy Hazell, Seton Hall, G, Sr., 6-5, 188, Bronx, N.Y.
Corey Fisher, Villanova, G, Sr., 6-1, 200, Bronx, N.Y.
Kevin Jones, West Virginia, F, Jr., 6-8, 255, Mount Vernon, N.Y.
Second Team
Chris Wright, Georgetown, G, Sr., 6-1, 208, Washington, D.C.
Jimmy Butler, Marquette, F, Sr., 6-7, 220, Tomball, Texas
Tim Abromaitis, Notre Dame, F, Sr., 6-8, 235, Unionville, Conn.
D.J. Kennedy, St. John’s, G/F, Sr., 6-5, 214, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Kris Joseph, Syracuse, F, Jr., 6-7, 207, Montreal, Quebec
Honorable Mention
Yancy Gates, Cincinnati, F, Sr., 6-9, 260, Cincinnati, Ohio
Darius Johnson-Odom, Marquette, G, Jr., 6-2, 215, Raleigh, N.C.
Rick Jackson, Syracuse, F, Sr., 6-9, 240, Philadelphia, Pa.