NEW YORK — Villanova is in a familiar place - atop the Big East Conference.
The defending NCAA champions were picked by coaches to win the Big East Conference on Thursday. This is the fifth straight year the Wildcats have held the top spot. They received eight first-place votes while Marquette and Butler each received one No. 1 pick. Coaches may not vote for their own team.
The Wildcats only return two starters from last season’s team that went 36-4 and won its second national championship in three years.
“It is definitely wide open this year,” Villanova coach Jay Wright said.