Four Big East standouts were unanimous selections to the 2016-17 All-Big East First Team, announced today by the league. The conference announced the All-Big East First and Second Teams, Honorable Mention and the All-Freshman Team. The league’s head coaches choose the all-conference teams and are not permitted to vote for their own players.
The four unanimous picks are: Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson of Villanova, Marcus Foster of Creighton and Angel Delgado of Seton Hall. Two other All-Big East First Team picks are Trevon Bluiett of Xavier and Andrew Chrabascz of Butler. Hart and Bluiett are repeat first team selections from last year.
The Big East Player of the Year will come from the All-Big East First Team. The conference will announce Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Freshman of the Year and the Big Est Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year on Wednesday, March 8. The announcement will be made on the first day of the Big East Tournament Presented by Jeep at Madison Square Garden at 4:30 p.m. ET. The other league individual awards will be announced Monday, March 7.
Hart and Brunson have helped orchestrate another Big East regular-season crown for the Wildcats. A 6-5 senior guard, Hart is among the Big East leaders in several statistical categories. He finished the regular season ranked first in scoring with an 18.7 average. He is also fourth in rebounding with a 6.5 mark and sixth in steals at 1.5. Hart won the Big East scoring title with an 18.2 average in league games. Hart was the Preseason Big East Player of the Year.
Brunson, a 6-2 sophomore, is the Villanova floor leader. He is averaging 14.8 points and ranks second in the Big East in assists with a 4.3 mark. His 2.0 assist/turnover ratio is fourth in the league. Brunson leads all Big East guards in shooting percentage, making 53.6 percent.
Foster became a dominant force for Creighton in his first season with the Bluejays. He finished second in the Big East in overall scoring with an 18.5 and was edged for the league scoring title by Hart by three points.
Delgado has been a double-double machine for Seton Hall. The junior forward averaged 15.7 points and a nation-leading 13.1 rebounds. In league play, he broke one of the Big East oldest records by averaging 14.1 rebounds in league games. That broke the mark of 14.0 set by Pittsburgh’s Jerome Lane in 1986-87.
Bluiett was Xavier prime offensive weapon, ranking fourth in the Big East in scoring with an 18.0 average. His 5.8 rebound mark ranks 10th in the league. Also a formidable 3-point threat, the junior’s 75 baskets from beyond the arc ranks fourth in the Big East
Chrabascz has been a key cog in a well-oiled Butler machine that ascended to second-place in the Big East after being picked sixth in the preseason coaches’ poll. The all-around performer is averaging 11.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists. A 6-7 senior, he ranks third in the league with a 2.0 assist/turnover ratio.
The Big Freshman of the Year will come from the All-Freshman Team. Creighton’s Justin Patton, Butler’s Kamar Baldwin and the St. John’s guard duo of Marcus LoVett and Shamorie Ponds were unanimous picks. Marquette’s Markus Howard and Villlanova’s Donte DiVincenzo also were named to the team.
Patton is averaging 13.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and a league-leading 69.3 shooting from the field for the Bluejays. In addition to averaging xx points for Butler, Baldwin has been a defensive standout averaging 1.7 steals, fourth in the BIG EAST. Ponds ranks fifth in the Big East in scoring with a 17.6 average with LoVett seventh at 16.4 points. Howard owns a 13.1 scoring average and is first in the Big East in 3-point scoring at 55.1 percent. DiVincenzo has averaged 7.9 points and 3.1 rebounds for Villanova while playing 25.0 minutes per game and providing important contributions for the regular-season champions.
ALL-BIG EAST FIRST TEAM
Andrew Chrabascz, Butler, F, Sr., 6-7, 230, Portsmouth, R.I.
*Marcus Foster, Creighton, G, Jr., 6-3, 210, Wichita Falls, Tex.
*Angel Delgado, Seton Hall, F, Jr., 6-10, 240, Bajos De Haina, Dominican Republic
*Jalen Brunson, Villanova, G, So., 6-2, 190, Lincolnshire, Ill.
*Josh Hart, Villanova, G, Sr., 6-5, 215, Silver Spring, Md.
Trevon Bluiett, Xavier, G, Jr., 6-6, 205, Indianapolis, Ind.
ALL-BIG EAST SECOND TEAM
Kelan Martin, Butler, F, So., 6-7, 220, Louisville, Ky.
Justin Patton, Creighton, F, Fr., 7-0, 230, Omaha, Neb.
Rodney Bullock, Providence, F, Jr., 6-8, 225, Hampton, Va.
Kyron Cartwright, Providence, G, Jr., 5-11, 185, Compton, Calif.
Khadeen Carrington, Seton Hall, G, Jr., 6-4, 195, Brooklyn, N.Y.
BIG EAST HONORABLE MENTION
Rodney Pryor, Georgetown, G, Gr., 6-5, 205, Evanston, Ill.
Kris Jenkins, Villanova, G, Sr., 6-6, 235, Upper Marlboro, Md.
BIG EAST ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM^
*Kamar Baldwin, Butler, G, Fr., 6-0, 170, Winder, Ga.
*Justin Patton, Creighton, F, Fr., 7-0, 230, Omaha, Neb.
Markus Howard, Marquette, G, Fr., 5-11, 175, Chandler, Ariz.
*Marcus LoVett, St. John’s, G, Fr., 6-0, 175, Fort Wayne, Ind.
*Shamorie Ponds, St. John’s, G, Fr., 6-1, 165, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Donte DiVincenzo, Villanova, G, Fr., 6-5, 205, Wilmington, Del.
*Denotes unanimous selection.
