NEW YORK – Back-to-back BIG EAST Champion Creighton was picked to win the league a third time as the league coaches unanimously picked the Bluejays in the 2016 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches’ Poll, announced by the Conference on Wednesday. Creighton sophomore outside hitter Jaali Winters was picked as the Preseason Player of the Year.
Creighton’s unanimous preseason selection with 81 points was followed by Marquette, which had the final first place vote and 70 points, then Xavier (63 points) and Villanova (62 points). The top four of the preseason coaches’ poll were the same top four to finish the 2015 regular season and the four teams to make up the 2015 BIG EAST Championship field.