Villanova Men’s, Women’s Basketball Lauded in Preseason Big East Poll

The Big East is holding its media day for the 2026-27 basketball season on Thursday, Oct. 1, and with the media day comes the preseason coaches poll and all-conference list. Villanova Men’s Basketball finished third in the voting, picking up 81 points; UConn finished No. 1 with 98 points, including eight first place votes, and St. John’s (90 points, two first place votes) finished second. Marquette (73 points) finished fourth but managed to pick up the final first place vote, while the Wildcats had none.

Senior guard Tyler Perkins earned a spot on the All-Big East First Team, and transfers Kwame Evans Jr. and Devin Royal landed on the second team; Perkins made the Third Team last year.

On the women’s side, Villanova finished second behind the mighty UConn Huskies, earning the first place vote of head coach Geno Auriemma as coaches can’t vote for their own teams. Junior guard Jasmine Bascoe earned a unanimous All-Big East selection, and rising sophomore Kennedy Henry also picked up a place on the team.

Both Villanova squads made the NCAA Tournament last season and will try to replicate that success in 2027.