Sandro Mamukelashvili received Preseason All-Big East First Team honors and Seton Hall was ranked fifth in this year’s Preseason Coaches Poll during Wednesday’s Big East Media Day.
Despite having finished in a three-way tie for the regular season conference title last season, the Pirates were picked below Villanova, Creighton, Providence and conference-returners UConn.
Villanova was the outright favorite in this season’s preseason poll with Creighton just behind in second. The University of Connecticut’s Huskies, a new addition to this year's Big East lineup led by former Pirate Dan Hurley, finished just two points above Seton Hall in fourth.
Mamukelashvili’s individual preseason All-Conference honors come after averaging 11.9 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. Graduate-transfer Bryce Aiken also received an honorable mention.
“I think it’s phenomenal because it shows all the hard work that Sandro put in,” head coach Kevin Willard said. “I think towards the end of last year, everyone started to see the type of player that he’s emerging to be. I think this whole draft process gave him a lot of confidence and info on what he needs to work on. I’m expecting a really big year from him because he wants it and he’s ready for it.”
Mamukelashvili, Aiken and Myles Cale represented Seton Hall at media day along with Willard.
Big East Preseason Coaches Poll
- Villanova (99)
- Creighton (91)
- Providence (79)
- Connecticut (69)
- Seton Hall (67)
- Marquette (50)
- Xavier (47)
- Butler (37)
- St. John's (33)
- DePaul (20)
- Georgetown (13)
Justin Sousa can be reached at justin.sousa@student.shu.edu. Follow him on Twitter @JustinSousa99.
