Powell Named Preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team

NEW YORK - Seton Hall men's basketball junior Myles Powell (Trenton, N.J.) has been named to the preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team, a recognition that comes on the heels of the sharpshooting guard's breakout sophomore campaign that ended with BIG EAST Most Improved Player of the Year honors. The BIG EAST made the announcement at its annual Media Day held at Madison Square Garden.

Exceeding Expectations The Pirates have traditionally been underrated by the BIG EAST coaches when it comes to the preseason poll. In the previous 39 polls, Seton Hall has finished higher than its predicted finish 19 times, which is 48.7 percent of all the polls. The Pirates have both met the expectation and underperformed the preseason prediction exactly 10 times (25.6%) each.
Year	Preseason Rank	Actual Finish
2018-19	8th	?
2017-18*	2nd	T-3rd
2016-17*	T-4th	T-3rd
2015-16*	7th	3rd**
2014-15	6th	T-7th
2013-14	8th	8th
2012-13	14th	T-13th
2011-12	13th	T-9th
2010-11	11th	12th
2009-10	10th	T-9th
2008-09	13th	T-11th
2007-08	13th	11th
2006-07	15th	13th
2005-06*	15th	7th
2004-05	8th	T-9th
2003-04*	6th	T-5th
2002-03	6th West Div.	T-3rd West Div.
2001-02	4th West Div.	6th West Div.
2000-01	1st West Div.	6th West Div.
1999-00*	7th	T-4th
1998-99	9th	T-8th
1997-98	7th BIG EAST 7	3rd BIG EAST 7
1996-97	6th BIG EAST 7	T-6th BIG EAST 7
1995-96	4th BIG EAST 7	5th BIG EAST 7
1994-95	10th	T-6th
1993-94*	7th	7th
1992-93*	1st	1st**
1991-92*	2nd	T-1st
1990-91*	7th	T-3rd**
1989-90	7th	T-7th
1988-89*	7th	2nd
1987-88*	5th	T-5th
1986-87	7th	7th
1985-86	7th	9th
1984-85	8th	9th
1983-84	9th	9th
1982-83	9th	9th
1981-82	7th	8th
1980-81	8th	7th
1979-80	6th	6th
* Earned NCAA Tournament bid ** Won BIG EAST Tournament

In addition, the BIG EAST coaches picked the Pirates to finish eighth in its annual preseason poll. Though the low ranking is the result of Seton Hall graduating one of its most heralded senior classes of all time, the Pirates have traditionally exceeded preseason expectations. In the previous 39 preseason coaches polls, The Hall has finished higher than its predicted finish 19 times.

One of two team captains alongside senior Michael Nzei (Makurdi, Nigeria), Powell has made a meteoric leap in his game, becoming one of the BIG EAST's best after a strong sophomore campaign. He upped his scoring by 4.8 points per game, no small feat considering he was playing with three seniors who all averaged over 10 points a game as well, increased his overall shooting percentage by 4.1 percent and his three-point shooting percentage by 4.7 percent. Perhaps his best improvement was his passing ability, more than tripling the number of assists he dished out from 29 to 94. According to KenPom, Powell's assist rate (assists divided by the number of field goals made by his teammates when on the court) jumped from 7.3 percent as a freshman to 15.8 percent as a sophomore.

Led by ninth-year head coach Kevin Willard, the Pirates are seeking a fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance and 20-win season.

2018-19 Preseason BIG EAST Honorees

Preseason All-BIG EAST first team
Kamar Baldwin, Butler
Jessie Govan, Georgetown
Markus Howard, Marquette
Alpha Diallo, Providence
Eric Paschall, Villanova

Preseason All-BIG EAST second team
Max Strus, DePaul
Sam Hauser, Marquette
Justin Simon, St. John's
Myles Powell, Seton Hall
Phil Booth, Villanova

Preseason All-BIG EAST honorable mention
Martin Krampelj, Creighton
Naji Marshall, Xavier

Preseason BIG EAST Player of the Year
Shamorie Ponds, St. John's

Co-Preseason BIG EAST Rookies of the Year
David Duke, Providence
Jahvon Quinerly, Villanova

2018-19 BIG EAST Men's Basketball Coaches Preseason Poll

	Team (1st Place Votes)	Points
1.	Villanova (8)	79
2.	Marquette (1)	70
3.	Providence	58
4.	St. John's	57
5.	Butler (1)	45
6.	Xavier	41
7.	Georgetown	33
8.	Seton Hall	26
9.	Creighton	25
10.	DePaul	16

Scoreboard

Seton Hall University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Michael Nzei

Myles Powell

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