Big East Media Day is upon us and the Providence season begins exactly one month from today against Harvard. The league’s media day is being held at Madison Square Garden today with opening remarks from Commissioner Val Ackerman scheduled for 9:30am. The Friars are sending Ed Cooley, Kris Dunn, Junior Lomomba, Ben Bentil and Jalen Lindsey down to NYC for the event. Follow all the action on Twitter by using the hashtag #BEmediaday

I want to put a disclaimer here and say that these are not my predictions. I’m giving you my honest opinion on what I believe SHOULD be the case. Let’s dive right in with Preseason Player of the Year.

Big East Preseason Player of the Year

Kris Dunn, Junior, Providence

This one is easy for me. Dunn is returning to the league after being a surefire first round draft pick in the 2015 NBA Draft and he shared this award with Villanova’s Ryan Arcidiacono last season — the first Friar to ever win Big East Player of the Year. There are already a few publications that have included Dunn on their preseason All-American teams and Blue Ribbon College Yearbook named Dunn their preseason National Player of the Year. Dunn is going to have to carry Providence and if they run and play as uptempo as it sounds like they will Dunn could be poised for some gaudy offensive numbers. He also led the Big East in steals a season ago and was the league’s co-Defensive Player of the Year with Sir’Dominic Pointer.

Big East Preseason Freshman of the Year

Jalen Brunson, Freshman, Villanova

While some might put Henry Ellenson here or maybe even Jessie Govan I think Brunson should get this because he will fit right into Jay Wright’s guard-oriented system at Villanova and be on the league’s best team. Brunson really impressed those who saw him play with Team USA’s U19 team — Ed Cooley was an assistant coach on that team this summer — and he got high praise from USA’s head coach Sean Miller who called Brunson “a Final Four point guard” after the lefty guard averaged 14 points/game, dished out 5.6 assists/game and had 2.1 steals/game en route to the gold medal for Team USA.

All-Big East First Team

Kris Dunn, Junior, Providence

It makes sense to have the Preseason Player of the Year be on the league’s First Team. Dunn was a First-Teamer last season too. He’ll have to carry the team even more this season without LaDontae Henton’s scoring but Cooley plans to play fast and spread the floor for Dunn to create. I think Dunn will create.

Roosevelt Jones, Senior, Butler

Kellen Dunham might be the one who gets this spot because he will most likely lead the Bulldogs in scoring but Jones is the guy that makes that team go and to me that is deserving of First Team acknowledgment. Jones’ numbers aren’t going to be gaudy but he has a great “old man” game and has the grit that reminds onlookers of the pre-2013 Big East.

Daniel Ochefu, Senior, Villanova

Ochefu might be the league’s best returning big man with players like Carson Desrosiers, Chris Obekpa, Joshua Smith, Matt Stainbrook and Kameron Woods all moving on. Providence fans would want me to put Ben Bentil in this spot but I think he’s one more year away from being on the First Team. Ochefu was 8th nationally last season in Defensive Rebounding % and 27th in Offensive Rebounding %, according to Kenpom.com.

Jalen Reynolds, Junior, Xavier

This might not be a pick that a lot of people make on the First Team but I think Reynolds is poised for a breakout year for Chris Mack’s Musketeers. Reynolds is the team’s leading returning rebounder and I think he might flirt with averaging a double-double this season for a Xavier team that is still very talented despite losing Stainbrook and Dee Davis from last year’s Sweet 16 team.

D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera, Senior, Georgetown

DSR was last season’s pick for Preseason Player of the Year and despite not winning the award he had a very good junior season. He thought about declaring for the 2015 NBA Draft but ultimately decided to return for his senior season with the Hoyas. He won’t have to do quite as much this season with some of the sophomores getting lots of experience last season as freshmen but he will still be the team’s leader on and off the court.

Preseason Team Rankings

1. Villanova

2. Georgetown

3. Butler

4. Xavier

5. Providence

6. Seton Hall

7. Marquette

8. Creighton

9. DePaul

10. St. John’s

I’ll have a detailed breakdown of each team in the Big East on one of my Friartown Fan Voice podcasts. To submit a question call 516-500-PCBB (7222) or email mhopkins@pcbb1917.com.

Thoughts? Comments? Concerns? Let them rip below in the comments section or on Twitter.

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Mike Hopkins

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