Steven Adams named Big East preseason rookie of the year
By Matt Shetler
The Big East Conference basketball coaches came out with their annual coaches’ poll on Wednesday. The biggest thing coming from that was that 7-foot, 250-pound Pitt center Steven Adams was named the Big East preseason rookie of the year.
Mar 03, 2012; Storrs, CT, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers guard Tray Woodall (1) drives the ball in the first half against Connecticut Huskies guard Ryan Boatright (11) at Gampel Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-US PRESSWIRE
Adams became Pitt’s third preseason Big East rookie of the year selection and first since Vonteego Cummings earned the honor prior to the 1995-96 season. Jerome Lane also earned the honor before the 1985-86 campaign.
In addition to Adams, point guard Tray Woodall earned All-Big East honorable mention honors. Woodall enters his senior season ranked among program career leaders in assists (10th, 413), double-figure assist games (fourth, 7), point-assist double-doubles (second, 6), and assist-to-turnover ratio (fourth, 2.03).
As a team, the Panthers were picked to finish sixth in the conference. Louisville was unanimously selected to capture first, followed by No. 2 Syracuse, No. 3 Notre Dame, No. 4 Cincinnati and No. 5 Georgetown.
Louisville’s Peyton Siva was named the Big East preseason player of the year. Cincinnati’s Sean Kilpatrick, Georgetown’s Otto Porter, Louisville’s Gorgui Deng, Notre Dame’s Jack Cooley and Providence’s Vincent Council rounded out the all-Big East first-team selections.