The annual Big East Media Day frenzy took over Madison Square Garden on October 23rd and it was nice to see the retro logo featured as a celebration of the league’s 45th season. It was also a nice touch to be able to watch a live stream of the event, featuring league commissioner Val Ackerman and a coach and player from all 11 member schools, available on Peacock as part of the league’s new TV deal that features Fox Sports, NBC Sports and TNT Sports (plus a package bought by CBS Sports) to varying degrees. The Peacock stream — which we watched live together in the pcbb1917 Discord — served as a good reminder to get that subscription locked up if you’re a Big East fan because you’ll likely need it (there will be 25 Big East men’s basketball games streamed exclusively on Peacock this season) to watch at least a few of your team’s games this season, including the first two rounds (5 games) of the 2025 Big East Tournament.
I’ll certainly tell you that Providence was 6th in the Preseason Coaches Poll and Bryce Hopkins, returning from January 2024 knee surgery to repair a torn ACL, was (surprisingly?) named to the Preseason First Team All-Big East for the second straight season. But as you may have heard on the inaugural Kim English Radio Show of the season last week, the actual head coaches don’t really fill out these preseason poll and team ballots that end up becoming these contentious talking points and bulletin board material for fans all across the league. It’s nice to be recognized, don’t get me wrong. But also, don’t put a lot of stock into what you see from these preseason lists. The Friars are dealing with some injuries and English has noted now several times publicly that his team is practicing with less than 10 scholarship players at this point. While English said at MSG that all 3 of his big men — Christ Essandoko, Oswin Erhunmwunse and Anton Bonke — are healthy it seems that the guards are the ones with the most nicks and bruises, so this Saturday’s charity exhibition game against UMass at the Amica Mutual Pavilion is likely to be missing some key pieces from Providence like Hopkins and Jayden Pierre. Nonetheless, the game on Saturday is a charity event (for the kids!) benefitting the Rhode Island Free Clinic and the Baystate Children’s Hospital and you should get over there if you can on Saturday. Also that’s the only way to see the game as it won’t be televised (not even Peacock) so the only other option is to listen to John and Joe on WPRO.
Coach English spoke with the John Fanta, Vin Parise and Tarik Turner at @BIGEASTMBB Media Day pic.twitter.com/7mBcHrvthf
— Providence MBB (@PCFriarsmbb) October 23, 2024
Bryce Hopkins sat down with Kim Adams at @BIGEASTMBB Media Day pic.twitter.com/WGuSP2iq7t
— Providence MBB (@PCFriarsmbb) October 23, 2024
🎞️: more from Big East Media Day pic.twitter.com/njuiyN2Bse
— Providence MBB (@PCFriarsmbb) October 23, 2024
PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton, C, Sr., 7-1, 270, Florissant, Mo.
PRESEASON FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Liam McNeeley, Connecticut, F, Fr., 6-7, 210, Richardson, Texas
PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST FIRST TEAM
Alex Karaban, Connecticut, F, R-Jr., 6-8, 225, Southborough, Mass.
Kam Jones, Marquette, G, Sr., 6-5, 205, Memphis, Tenn.
Bryce Hopkins, Providence, G-F, Sr., 6-7, 220, Oak Park, Ill.
Kadary Richmond, St. John’s, G, Gr., 6-6, 205, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Eric Dixon, Villanova, F, Gr., 6-8, 265, Willow Grove, Pa.
PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST SECOND TEAM
Pierre Brooks, Butler, F, Sr., 6-6, 200, Detroit, Mich.
Jahmyl Telfort, Butler, F, Gr., 6-7, 240, Montreal, Quebec
Deivon Smith, St. John’s, G, Gr., 6-0, 175, Decatur, Ga.
Zach Freemantle, Xavier, F, Gr., 6-9, 227, Teaneck, N.J.
Dayvion McKnight, Xavier, G, Gr., 6-0, 190, Shelbyville, Ky.
PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST THIRD TEAM
Aidan Mahaney, Connecticut, G, Jr., 6-3, 185, Lafayette, Calif.
Steven Ashworth, Creighton, G, Sr., 6-0, 175, Alpine, Utah
Jayden Epps, Georgetown, G, Jr., 6-2, 190, Norfolk, Va.
Wooga Poplar, Villanova, G, Sr., 6-5, 197, Philadelphia, Pa.
Ryan Conwell, Xavier, G, Jr., 6-4, 215, Indianapolis, Ind.