Xavier’s Joe Gellenbeck was voted Preseason Player of the Year; Villanova’s Hunter Schryver Named Preseason Pitcher of the Year
NEW YORK – Xavier and St. John’s split the coaches’ vote to be the league’s preseason favorite for the 2017 season. The Musketeers were last year’s BIG EAST regular season and tournament champions and represented the league in the NCAA tournament in 2016. St. John’s repeats as the preseason pick by the coaches for the third year in a row. Xavier senior Joe Gellenbeck was selected Preseason Player of the Year; while Villanova senior Hunter Schryver was voted Preseason Pitcher of the Year.