Dec. 20, 2005

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Big East Conference released its preseason poll of league coaches this week, and Villanova was chosen to finish in seventh place out of 12 teams in the conference, which now includes newcomers Cincinnati, Louisville and University of South Florida. The Wildcats were tied for seventh place with West Virginia. Both teams had 51 points, while Villanova had one first-place vote.

The Wildcats registered a 28-21-2 record last season, posting a winning record for the third time in four years under head coach Joe Godri. In 2006, Villanova returns 23 letterwinners from that squad. Leading the way are returning All-Big East players in junior pitcher Kevin Mulvey (Parlin, N.J.) and sophomore shortstop Derek Shunk (Yardley, Pa.). Mulvey averaged better than one strikeout per inning last season while making 12 starts, and Shunk batted .337 with 40 runs scored and a .426 on-base percentage in his freshman campaign.

Defending conference champion Notre Dame was picked to finish first in the league once again. The Fighting Irish garnered nine of 11 first-place votes and 117 total points. Pittsburgh received two first-place votes and a total of 103 points to finish second, while newcomers USF (91) and Louisville (87) rounded out the top four.

St. John's finished fifth in the poll with 82 points, while Rutgers (76) was also picked ahead of the Wildcats and West Virginia. The bottom four included Connecticut (48), Cincinnati (42), Seton Hall (26) and Georgetown (18).

The Big East also announced the Preseason Player of the Year, Preseason Pitcher of the Year and Preseason All-Big East team. Pittsburgh swept the two big awards, with Jim Negrych winning Preseason Player of the Year and Bill Muldowney being named the Preseason Pitcher of the Year. The Wildcats were the lone returning team in the conference to not have a preseason All-Conference player. Villanova had three players earn all-conference honors last season.