Howard and Hauser earn BIG EAST honors as MU is picked second

NEW YORK – Markus Howard was selected to the Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team, while Sam Hauser earned second team honors and the Marquette University men's basketball team was pegged second in the league's annual preseason coaches' poll.

Villanova, the reigning NCAA champion, has been selected to win the 2018-19 BIG EAST regular-season crown in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Wildcats received eight first-place votes from the league's head coaches and a total of 79 points in the poll. Marquette and Butler received one first-place vote. Coaches do not place their own teams on their ballots.

Marquette was picked second in the poll, the highest preseason poll position for the Golden Eagles since they were tabbed for first in 2013-14. Marquette finished 21-14 overall and 9-9 in BIG EAST play last season and welcomes back four starters and two transfers who are expected to play significant roles. Howard was an All-BIG EAST Second Team selection after averaging 20.4 points and shooting 40.4 percent from 3-point range. Teammate Sam Hauser was third in the nation in 3–point shooting, making 48.7 percent. The junior forward averaged 14.1 points and 5.7 rebounds. The two transfers are forward Ed Morrow and guard Joseph Chartouny.

Howard, an All-BIG EAST Second Team selection last year, has been one of the nation's top shooters in his first two seasons at Marquette. The 5-11 junior was fifth in the league in scoring last season with a 20.4 average and shot 40.4 percent from 3-point range. He was second nationally in free throw shooting, making 93.8 percent.

The coaches have placed the Wildcats in the top spot for five straight seasons. Villanova had won a league-record four straight BIG EAST crowns outright before finishing second to Xavier last year. Villanova was 14-4 in league play last season, one game behind the Musketeers. The Wildcats won the BIG EAST Tournament and went on to capture their second national championship in three years, finishing with a 36-4 record. Over the last five years, Villanova is 77-13 in regular-season competition.

The Wildcats return two starters from last year's team that included four NBA draft picks. Forward Eric Paschall is back after averaging 10.6 points and 5.3 rebounds. Guard Phil Booth averaged 10.0 points and added 95 assists to only 45 turnovers. Both are seniors. Guard Collin Gillespie and forwards Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree and Jermaine Samuels will push for more prominent roles. Villanova also has a heralded recruiting class expected to compete for some available playing time.

Providence was tabbed for third place, the Friars' highest preseason poll position in the BIG EAST's current 10-team alignment. The Friars are riding a school record of five straight NCAA Tournaments. This year, Providence can look to Alpha Diallo, one of the league's most versatile players. Last year. The 6-7 guard averaged 13.2 points and 6.6 rebounds. Center Emmitt Holt returns after missing last season with an abdominal injury. He averaged 12.4 points and 5.4 rebounds two seasons ago.

St. John's placed fourth in the poll, one point behind Providence. The Red Storm have a nucleus of three quality starters. Junior guard Shamorie Ponds led the league in scoring in all games with a 21.6 average. He ranked second in the BIG EAST in steals (2.3) and fifth in assists (4.7). Junior guard Justin Simon averaged 12.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and his steal mark of 2.5 led the BIG EAST. Senior forward Marvin Clark II averaged 12.5 points, which included 65 3-pointers, and 4.7 boards. The Johnnies may have as many as seven newcomers battle for some available playing time. They got a boost when Auburn transfer Mustapha Heron was granted a legislative relief waiver by the NCAA and will be eligible this season.

Butler is predicted to finish fifth. Under new coach LaVall Jordan last year, the Bulldogs finished 21-14 and made their fourth straight NCAA Tournament. This season, junior guard Kamar Baldwin will lead Butler after averaging 15.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.5 steals. Senior guard Paul Jorgensen (10.2), forward Sean McDermott (7.5, 3.9) and guard Aaron Thompson (4.3) all have starting experience. Center Nate Fowler (5.9, 3.1) will likely move into a starting role. Six returnees averaged at least 15 minutes last season. A promising group of newcomers includes transfer forward Jordan Tucker.

2018-19 Preseason Coaches' Poll

Villanova (8) 79
Marquette (1) 70
Providence 58
St. John's 57
Butler (1) 45
Xavier 41
Georgetown 33
Seton Hall 26
Creighton 25
DePaul 16

First-place votes in parentheses.

BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year
Shamorie Ponds, St. John's, G, Jr., 6-1, 175, Brooklyn, N.Y.

BIG EAST Preseason Freshmen of the Year
David Duke, Providence, G, Fr., 6-5, 198, Providence, R.I.
Jahvon Quinerly, Villanova, G, Fr., 6-1, 175, Hackensack, N.J.

BIG EAST Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team
Kamar Baldwin, Butler, G, Jr., 6-1, 195, Winder, Ga.*
Jessie Govan, Georgetown, C, Sr., 6-10, 255, Queens Village, N.Y.*
Markus Howard, Marquette, G, Jr., 5-11, 175, Chandler, Ariz.*
Alpha Diallo, Providence, G, Jr., 6-7, 211, New York, N.Y.
Eric Paschall, Villanova, F, Sr., 6-8, 225, Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.*

BIG EAST Preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team
Max Strus, DePaul, F, Sr., 6-6, 215, Hickory Hills, Ill.
Sam Hauser, Marquette, F, Jr., 6-8, 225, Stevens Point, Wis.
Justin Simon, St. John's, G, Jr., 6-5, 215, Temcula, Calif.
Myles Powell, Seton Hall, G, Jr., 6-2, 195, Trenton, N.J.
Phil Booth, Villanova, G, Sr., 6-3, 194, Baltimore, Md.

Preseason All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention
Martin Krampelj, Creighton, F, Jr., 6-9, 235, Grosuplje, Slovenia
Naji Marshall, Xavier, F, So., 6-7, 222, Atlantic City, N.J.

*Unanimous selection

Howard and Hauser earn BIG EAST honors as MU is picked second

Players Mentioned

Joseph Chartouny

Sam Hauser

Markus Howard

Ed Morrow

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