Two Musketeers Named Preseason All-BIG EAST Conference

NEW YORK --- The annual BIG EAST Conference Media Day for basketball is here at the New York Marriott Marquis at Times Square. Head coach Richard Pitino, junior Jovan Milićević and senior Mike Nwoko are in attendance for the men's basketball portion of the event.

The BIG EAST announced its preseason coaches poll and player honors this morning. Both Milićević and Nwoko, who were named team captains this past week, were named to the preseason All-BIG EAST Third Team by the league coaches. The coaches picked the Xavier team to finish sixth in the 11-team regular season league race.

The 6-10 Milićević, the only returning scholarship player currently eligible for the Musketeers, finished second on the team in scoring last season at 12.4 ppg., including 21 points in the win over Marquette in the BIG EAST Tournament on March 11 and 21 points in the regular season finale at Villanova on March 7. Milićević recorded double-figure scoring 22 times, including 14 of the last 17 games. He finished seventh in the BIG EAST in 3-point field goals per game at 2.0.

The 6-10 Nwoko started 29 of LSU's 32 games last season, finishing third on the team in scoring at 13.4 ppg. and in rebounding at 5.9 rpg., which ranked 22nd in the SEC. He shot 61.0 percent (155-254) from the field and 76.1 percent (118-155) from the free-throw line in 21.8 minutes per game. He scored in double figures in 23 games for LSU, including each of the last five games.

Pitino has 11 newcomers on this year's roster, including seven transfers and four freshmen. XU returns three players from last year's roster, although two of them sat out last season as medical redshirts. Milićević is the only one that played in a game.

TICKET UPDATES

Mini-packs for the 2026-27 Xavier men's basketball season are on sale now! If you can't make it to all 19 home games, mini packs are customizable and offer affordable ways to join us at Cintas Center for either four or six games this season, starting at just $125. Fans can purchase mini packs online or by also calling the Xavier Athletics Ticket Office at (513) 745-3411 x7. Season tickets are also available in all locations, including lower-level premium and upper level mid-court, corner, and baseline seats. Season tickets are the best way to guarantee your seat to all 19 home games. Prices start as low as $16 per game.

Xavier plays the first of its three preseason exhibition games vs. Dayton on Wednesday, Oct. 7, in the CareSource Invitational, an outdoor basketball doubleheader slated to be played at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio. A limited number of tickets remain on sale. Prices start at $60 and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com.

BIG EAST PRESEASON POLL AND PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST TEAMS

2026-27 BIG EAST Men's Basketball Preseason Poll

1.    UConn (8) - 98
2.    St. John's (2) - 90
3.    Villanova - 81
4.    Marquette (1) - 73
5.    Providence - 59
6.    Xavier - 54
7.    Creighton - 47
8.    DePaul - 32
9.    Seton Hall - 31
10. Georgetown - 27
11. Butler -13
First place votes in parentheses

2026-27 BIG EAST Men's Basketball Preseason Honors

PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Silas Demary Jr., UConn, Sr., G, 6-4, 191, Raleigh, N.C.

PRESEASON FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Colben Landrew, UConn, Fr., F, 6-6, 236, McComb, Miss.

PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST FIRST TEAM
Braylon Mullins, UConn, So., G, 6-6, 198, Greenfield, Ind. *
Nigel James Jr., Marquette, So., G, 6-0, 195, Huntington, N.Y. *
Ian Jackson, St. John's, Jr., G, 6-5, 200, Bronx, N.Y.
Tounde Yessoufou, St. John's, So. G, 6-5, 220, Cotondou, Benin *
Tyler Perkins, Villanova, Sr., G, 6-4, 212, Lorton, Va.
* unanimous selection

PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST SECOND TEAM
Na'jai Hines, UConn, F, So., 6-11, 278, Plainfield, N.J.
Royce Parham, Marquette, Jr., F, 6-9, 235, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Miles Byrd, Providence, Gr., G, 6-6, 200, Stockton, Calif.
Kwame Evans Jr., Villanova, Sr., F, 6-10, 220, Baltimore, Md.
Devin Royal, Villanova, Sr., F, 6-6, 230, Columbus, Ohio

PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST THIRD TEAM
Jovan Milicevic, Xavier, Jr., F, 6-10, 241, Toronto, Ontario
Mike Nwoko, Xavier, Sr., F, 6-10, 260, Toronto, Ontario
Oswin Erhunmwunse, Creighton, Jr., C, 6-10, 235, Benin City, Nigeria
Jackson McAndrew, Creighton, Jr., F, 6-10, 225, Wayzata, Minn.
Layden Blocker, DePaul, Sr., G, 6-2, 193, Little Rock, Ark.
Sananda Fru, Marquette, Sr., F, 6-11, 250, Berlin, Germany

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