NEW YORK - The University of Cincinnati men's basketball team is ranked fifth in the 2011-12 preseason BIG EAST Conference poll announced Wednesday at the league's media day event at the New York Athletic Club.
Senior forward Yancy Gates (Cincinnati, Ohio/Withrow) was tabbed a second-team all-conference selection.
The fifth-place preseason ranking for the Bearcats is their highest since joining the BIG EAST in 2005-06. UC received 169 points overall.
Connecticut and Syracuse tied for first place atop the poll with 209 points. The Huskies received seven first-place votes while the Orangemen garnered five. Louisville was third with 201 points and three first-place votes. Pittsburgh was fourth with 188 points and one first-place vote.
Gates ranks fifth in rebounds (6.9), sixth in field goal percentage (.511) and eighth in blocks (1.3) among all returning players in the BIG EAST.
The Bearcats return seven letterwinners and their top four scorers from last year's 26-9 squad that advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament.
2011-12 Preseason Coaches' Poll
Team Pts.
1. Connecticut (7) - 209
Syracuse (5) - 209
3. Louisville (3) -201
4. Pittsburgh (1) -188
5. Cincinnati - 169
6. Marquette - 155
7. West Virginia - 132
8. Villanova - 127
9. Notre Dame - 114
10. Georgetown - 104
11. Rutgers - 75
12. St. John's - 71
13. Seton Hall - 56
14. USF - 43
15. Providence - 40
16. DePaul - 27
First-place votes in parentheses
2011-12 BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year
Ashton Gibbs, Pittsburgh
2011-12 BIG EAST Preseason Rookie of the Year
Andre Drummond, Connecticut
2011-12 Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team
Ashton Gibbs, Pittsburgh (Player of the Year), G, Sr., 6-2, 190, Scotch Plains, N.J.
Jeremy Lamb, Connecticut, G/F, So., 6-5, 185, Norcross, Ga.
Darius Johnson-Odom, Marquette, G, Sr., 6-2, 215, Raleigh, N.C.
Tim Abromaitis, Notre Dame, F, Gr., 6-8, 235, Unionville, Conn.
Kris Joseph, Syracuse, F, Sr., 6-7, 210, Montreal, Quebec
Kevin Jones, West Virginia, F, Sr., 6-8, 260, Mount Vernon, N.Y.
2011-12 Preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team
Yancy Gates, Cincinnati, F, Sr., 6-9, 260, Cincinnati, Ohio
Alex Oriakhi, Connecticut, F/C, Jr., 6-9, 240, Lowell, Mass.
Peyton Siva, Louisville, G, Jr., 5-11, 180, Seattle, Wash.
Scoop Jardine, Syracuse, G, Sr., 6-2 190, Philadelphia, Pa.
Maalik Wayns, Villanova, G, Jr., 6-2, 200, Philadelphia, Pa.
2011-12 Preseason All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention
Andre Drummond, Connecticut, C, Fr., 6-11, 275, Middletown, Conn.
Shabazz Napier, Connecticut, G, So. 6-0, 170, Roxbury, Mass.
Cleveland Melvin, DePaul, F, So., 6-8, 208, Baltimore, Md.
Jae Crowder, Marquette, F, Sr., 6-6, 235, Villa Rica, Ga.
Augustus Gilchrist, USF, F/C, Sr., 6-10, 245, Clinton, Md.
Men's Basketball Picked Fifth in Preseason BIG EAST Media Poll
