San Diego St. transfer Miles Byrd will be a defensive force at PC (Photo: Opendorse)
By KEVIN McNAMARA
NEW YORK – The Big East head basketball coaches have spoken and the results should be gladly accepted by Providence Friar fans.
The coaches poll has Providence in fifth position in a conference that is clearly deeper and more talented than it was in the past two seasons. That should mean at least five teams – or more – are in position to earn NCAA Tournament bids. The Friars last appeared in the NCAA’s in 2023.
Of course this is 2026 and a wave of uncertainty is still gripping many programs across the country due to player eligibility issues. The NCAA is currently not granting waivers to anyone who’s been professionally associated with the NBA/G League. That includes PC’s Dink Pate and St. John’s Babacar Sane, two highly-touted players.
Then there are some players who have spent time on high-end European teams that are certainly ‘professional,’ and moreso than any G Leaguer. The top player in that column is certainly St. John’s guard Quinn Ellis. Finally, and on a much more widespread basis, several Big East teams are hoping to include players looking for a fifth year with many involved in court cases around the country. It’s impossible to dip into the minds of all 11 Big East coaches as they weighed their choices but it’s safe to say that a St. John’s without Ellis and Sane will be viewed much differently than if they both get cleared.
Here are the results of the Poll:
- UConn (8)
- St. John’s (2)
- Villanova
- Marquette (1)
- Providence
- Xavier
- Creighton
- DePaul
- Seton Hall
- Georgetown
- Butler
The All-League teams include Providence’s Miles Byrd on the 2nd Team
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Silas Demary, UConn, Sr., G, 6-4, 191, Raleigh, N.C.
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Colben Landrew, UConn, Fr., F, 6-6, 236, McComb, Miss.
ALL-BIG EAST 1st TEAM
Braylon Mullins, UConn, So., G, 6-6, 198, Greenfield, Ind. *
Nigel James Jr., Marquette, So., G, 6-0, 195, Huntington, N.Y. *
Ian Jackson, St. John’s, Jr., G, 6-5, 200, Bronx, N.Y.
Tounde Yessoufou, St. John’s, So. G, 6-5, 220, Cotondou, Benin *
Tyler Perkins, Villanova, Sr., G, 6-4, 212, Lorton, Va.
* unanimous selection
ALL-BIG EAST 2nd TEAM
Na’jai Hines, UConn, F, So., 6-11, 278, Plainfield, N.J.
Royce Parham, Marquette, Jr., F, 6-9, 235, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Miles Byrd, Providence, Gr., G, 6-6, 200, Stockton, Calif.
Kwame Evans Jr., Villanova, Sr., F, 6-10, 220, Baltimore, Md.
Devin Royal, Villanova, Sr., F, 6-6, 230, Columbus, Ohio
ALL-BIG EAST 3rd TEAM
Oswin Erhunmwunse, Creighton, Jr., C, 6-10, 235, Benin City, Nigeria
Jackson McAndrew, Creighton, Jr., F, 6-10, 225, Wayzata, Minn.
Layden Blocker, DePaul, Sr., G, 6-2, 193, Little Rock, Ark.
Sananda Fru, Marquette, Sr., F, 6-11, 250, Berlin, Germany
Jovan Milicevic, Xavier, Jr., F, 6-10, 241, Toronto, Ontario
Mike Nwoko, Xavier, Sr., F, 6-10, 260, Toronto, Ontario
Dan Hurley and UConn are selected to unseat St. John’s as Big East champs
So are there any surprises here? In the Poll, there seems to be a solid top four but the mix of Providence, Creighton and Xavier appears interchangeable. The
