A Big East blitz

Another media day blitz awaits college basketball coaches and players as the Big 12, SEC and NEC host events today. There won't be a Field of 68 live show for those. Instead, you'll have to look for the latest DTF pod, which is being recorded today.

Also today, there's a full rundown of storylines from Big East media day, updates on the ACC and MAAC preseason awards, and more.

Let's get to the news.

1. Big East media day: News, notes and quotes 

Creighton came the farthest for Big East media day (held at Madison Square Garden), and you'd have to say it was worth the trip. Coaches chose the Bluejays as the team to beat, the first time that's happened in the nine years they've been in the league.

Guess media members aren't the only ones expecting Greg McDermott's team to make a jump from last year's 23-12 squad that finished fourth.

UConn big man Adama Sanogo claimed preseason POY honors (more on that below), while Villanova's Cam Whitmore was named freshman of the year.

And while there are five players on the Big East's preseason first-team, Sanogo wasn't one of them. So really, there are six. (Now we know where Rob Dauster learned it.) As shown by the preseason poll, coaches think Xavier's going to be quite good this year, which might be why the Musketeers landed more first-teamers than any other school. The second team is essentially a collection of Creighton and Villanova players.

The Field of 68 was on hand for a live show (click here) that featured coaches and players for two hours, so set aside some time for that. For those who don't have that kind of time right now, here are the day's highlights:

• Does Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner think he's better than Sanogo? Decide for yourself. (Because he's good at defense.)

• Sean Miller's back at Xavier, the team has talent and hasn't been to the Big Dance in four season. His squad "is hungry."

• UConn coach Dan Hurley (a Seton Hall grad) sees a kindred soul in league newcomer Shaheen Holloway: "We’re not the easiest people to play for, but I think we make our players better, we build character, and we win a lot of games.”

• And you better believe Holloway is delighted to be back at his alma mater.

• Both Hurley and St. John's coach Mike Anderson say this season's teams are the deepest they've had at their respective schools.

• The coolest photo of the day.

• UConn wing Andre Jackson thinks his broken pinky will be better in time for the PK 85.

• Butler was picked to finish 8th. Thad Matta's not sweating it.

• Same goes for Shaka Smart. Marquette was picked 9th.

• Greg McDermott says he's "probably one of the few people that think it might be OK" to expand the NCAA tournament.

• Finally, if there's a Big East expansion, it won't come until 2025 (if at all) when the league's media deal is up.

2. Life without Jay Wright

One of the most-asked questions Tuesday focused on a coach who wasn't there: Recently retired Villanova coach Jay Wright. Really, it's been the overarching theme of the last six months. Kinda how it goes with a Hall of Fame coach with two national championships and a slew of Big East titles to his name.

Not that things are too different at Villanova. Three starters return and new coach Kyle Neptune spent nearly a decade as a 'Nova assistant. He's not a Jay Wright clone — his suit cut might be — but he's ensured the program has the same look and feel as before. Even during practice.

"They're both fiery, but it's a different kind of fiery," senior Justin Moore said Tuesday. "Coach Wright is a yeller for sure. Nep is a yeller, but he likes to move around a lot. It's kinda funny. He's showing it more emotionally. It's a different vibe, for sure. They're both getting across the same point, just with different styles."

Still, things may feel similar, but it's not the same Villanova. At least, not yet.

Moore, the do-it-all guard who tore his right Achilles' tendon during the final minute of Nova's Elite Eight win last March, says he's feeling good but doesn't have a timetable for his return this season. Senior guard Caleb Daniels suffered a broken nose recently in practice and will be in a mask for another month. Freshman star Cam Whitmore — a combination of Eric Paschall and Josh Hart — just had thumb surgery and is out for at least another month.

Combine the injuries with Wright's retirement and it's no surprise the Wildcats were picked to finish third in the Big East, their lowest in the preseason poll since 2013. How do they adjust? From The Almanac:

That's a great place to start. And once Whitmore and Moore are healthy, expect Villanova to look more like the Villanova from the past 10 years. Even without Wright on the sideline.

3. Tar Heels take another top spot

Just a day after earning the No. 1 ranking in the preseason AP Top 25 (for the record 10th time), North Carolina was also overwhelmingly picked by ACC media to win the conference title, the league announced Tuesday.

The Heels claimed 90 of 101 total votes and are the preseason ACC favorites for the first time since 2015-16. Duke was picked to finish second, though Virginia earned more first-place votes (6 to 2). Miami, Florida State and Notre Dame round out the top six.

Also not surprising? UNC center Armando Bacot was tabbed as the preseason POY. Duke's Dereck Lively II is the preseason Rookie of the Year.

The all-league selections generated moderate Twitter discussion Tuesday night, mostly centered on Duke junior guard Jeremy Roach snagging a spot on the first team, just ahead of Virginia's Jayden Gardner. 

Is this where UNC fans overwhelm the conversation because they think R.J. Davis deserves that spot? Maybe. Davis earned first-team honors in The Almanac's ACC preview (Roach was a second-teamer). The guy we had in that fifth spot for the first team? Well, here's how you can find out.

4. Quick hits on commits

• Mississippi State landed 2023 forward Adrian Myers.

• UNLV added 6-5 forward Rob Whaley as part of its 2023 class.

• Jaden Harris, a 2-star guard, is headed to Eastern Tennessee.

5. It's a MAAC, MAAC, MAAC, MAAC world

Iona ran away with the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference in 2022. Coaches think it'll be more of the same in 2023. The Gaels were essentially a unanimous pick to win the MAAC by league coaches (we think the same in The Almanac; read it here).

However, astute readers know Iona did not close the season strong, losing to Rider in the conference tournament, with Saint Peter's earning the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. (You might've heard about that.)

Still, six rotation players and three starters return for Rick Pitino's squad, which also landed junior forward Nelly Junior Joseph on the preseason all-league first team and sophomore guard Walter Clayton Jr. on the second team.

Manhattan wing Jose Perez was picked as the league's preseason Player of the Year.

THE FAST BREAK

Links as you watch highlights from "skinny" James Harden.

• Greg Sankey doesn't know when the IARP ruling on LSU will land, but he's "frustrated" by how long it's taking.

• Texas and Oklahoma will stay in the Big 12 through 2025, says Commissioner Brett Yormark.

• Cincy grad student David DeJulius says he'll donate all profits of his jersey sales this year toward books for underprivileged kids in Cincy and his hometown of Detroit.

• Median D1 revenue generated in FY21 fell nearly 30% to $4.8M, while median expenses were $24.9 million. See the full dashboard from the Finances of Intercollegiate Athletics.

LIVE FROM BIG EAST MEDIA DAY

It's a live mic, coach

Rob Dauster and Terrence Oglesby held court Tuesday at MSG (John Fanta had other duties, see here) and talked to Big East coaches and players as part of the media day events.

The highlights? Ed Cooley's jokes, avowed UConn fan Dauster saying Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner is the best big man in the league, and the look on Patrick Ewing's face when he saw TO again. (DTF pod listeners know.)

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