The Big East preseason team predictions and awards have been released, with Marquette and Creighton splitting the opinions of the coaches as to who will win the conference. In the end, Marquette ends up the favorite, while Creighton is picked as the runner-up.
The difference was that Marquette, who returns all six starters plus the libero, received six first-place votes and a total of 78 points. Creighton on the other hand, who loses two key starters including Lydia Dimke, got four first-place votes and 76 points. If things were to occur just like they are predicted, it would end Creighton’s run as four-time defending Big East champions. It’s also the first time in school history for Marquette that they have been the preseason pick to win the Big East.
Rounding out the top four are the other two teams who made the Big East Tournament along with Marquette and Creighton in Butler and Villanova. They’re closely followed by Seton Hall before a sizable drop-off in voter points to the bottom half of the league.
In terms of the players picked to the Preseason All-Big East Team, all 13 earned some sort of distinction in the 2017 postseason awards. That includes eight who were on the first-team. Highlighting that list is Marquette’s Allie Barber, the Preseason Player of the Year, who won the Big East Player of the Year award in 2017. Also back is 2017 Big East Libero of the Year Brittany Witt from Creighton and Big East Freshman of the Year Hope Werch for Marquette, with the trio all earning preseason All-Big East – not to mention all have at least one more season after 2018.
The full list of team predictions and player selections can be seen below courtesy of the Big East.
Preseason BIG EAST Player of the Year – Allie Barber, Marquette, Jr., OH
Preseason All-BIG EAST
(listed alphabetically by institution, then last name)
Bri Lilly, Butler, Sr., MB ^
Taryn Kloth, Creighton, Sr., OH ^
Jaali Winters, Creighton, Sr., OH ^
Brittany Witt, Creighton, Jr., L
Brittany Maxwell, DePaul, Sr., RS
Symone Speech, Georgetown, Sr., MB ^
Allie Barber, Marquette, Jr. OH ^
Jenna Rosenthal, Marquette, R-Sr., MB ^
Hope Werch, Marquette, So., OH
Addison Root, Providence, Jr., OH
Erica DiMaulo, St. John’s, Jr., S ^
Abby Thelen, Seton Hall, Sr., OH
Amanda Pedersen-Henry, Villanova, Sr., MB
2018 Preseason Coaches’ Poll
First-place votes in ( )
| 1. Marquette (6) | 78 pts. |
| 2. Creighton (4) | 76 |
| 3. Butler | 60 |
| 4. Villanova | 57 |
| 5. Seton Hall | 52 |
| T6. St. John’s | 33 |
| T6. Xavier | 33 |
| 8. Georgetown | 24 |
| 9. Providence | 23 |
| 10. DePaul | 14 |
^ – denotes unanimous selection
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