UConn, under first-year coach Kevin Ollie, was picked ninth in the poll. Louisville received 14 of 15 first-place votes, with Notre Dame receiving the other vote, from Louisville coach Rick Pitino. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own teams.
Louisville, coming off a Final Four season where the Cardinals lost to eventual champion Kentucky in the national semifinals, placed point guard Peyton Siva and center Gorui Dieng on the preseason All-Big East first team.
Napier was the only UConn player named to any of the preseason teams. Pittsburgh center Steven Adams, expected to be one of the dominant centers in the nation, was selected as preseason Rookie of the Year.
Here’s a look at how the coaches voted:
1. Louisville (14)
2. Syracuse
3. Notre Dame (1)
4. Cincinnati
5. Georgetown
6. Pittsburgh
7. Marquette
8. South Florida
9. Connecticut
10. St John’s
11. Rutgers
12. Villanova
13. DePaul
14. Seton Hall
15. Providence
Preseason Player of the year: Peyton Siva, Louisville
Preseason Rookie of the year: Steven Adams, Pittsburgh
2012-13 Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team
Sean Kilpatrick, Cincinnati, G, Jr., 6-4, 221, White Plains, N.Y.
Otto Porter, Georgetown, F, So., 6-8, 205, Sikeston, Mo.
Gorgui Dieng, Louisville, C, Jr., 6-10, 225, Dakar, Senegal
Jack Cooley, Notre Dame, F, Sr., 6-9, 244, Glenview, Ill.
Vincent Council, Providence, G, Sr., 6-2, 180, Brooklyn, N.Y.
2012-13 Preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team
Shabazz Napier, Connecticut, G, Jr., 6-1, 171, Roxbury, Mass.
Cleveland Melvin, DePaul, F, Jr., 6-8, 208, Baltimore, Md.
D’Angelo Harrison, St. John’s, G, So., 6-3, 202, Missouri City, Texas
Anthony Collins, USF, So., G, 6-1, 175, Houston, Texas
Brandon Triche, Syracuse, G, Sr., 6-4, 205, Jamesville, N.Y.
2012-13 Preseason BIG EAST Honorable Mention
Chane Behanan, Louisville, F, So., 6-7, 250, Cincinnati, Ohio
Jerian Grant, Notre Dame, G, Jr., 6-5, 185, Bowie, Md.
Tray Woodall, Pittsburgh, G, Sr., 5-11, 190, Brooklyn, N.Y.
C.J. Fair, Syracuse, F, Jr., 6-8, 212, Baltimore, Md.