The Big East media day released their annual coaches’ poll and All-Big East preseason teams Wednesday, with DePaul picked to finish eighth in the conference.

Junior guard Billy Garrett Jr. was named second-team All-Big East preseason. He was also named to the second team in the 2014 poll.

This is the first time since the reconfiguration of the Big East that DePaul was not picked to finish last in the conference. Their seventh place finish in the 2014-15 season and new head coach Dave Leitao might have given other coaches confidence in the Blue Demons.

2015-16 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches’ Poll

1. Villanova (9) – 81 pts.

2. Georgetown (1) – 70

3. Butler – 67

4. Xavier – 55

5. Providence – 45

6. Marquette – 44

7. Seton Hall – 27

8. DePaul – 25

9. Creighton – 23

10. St. John’s – 13

*First-place votes in parentheses

2015-16 BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year

Kris Dunn, Providence, G, Jr., 6-4, 220, New London, Conn.

2015-16 BIG EAST Preseason Freshman of the Year

Jalen Brunson, Villanova, G, Fr., 6-2, 199, Lincolnshire, Ill.

2015-16 BIG EAST Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team

Kellen Dunham, Butler, G, Sr., 6-6, 200, Pendleton, Ind.

Roosevelt Jones, Butler, F, Sr., 6-4, 225, O’Fallon, Ill.

D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera, Georgetown, G, Sr., 6-3, 214, Indianapolis, Ind.

Ryan Arcidiacono, Villanova, G, Sr., 6-3, 195, Langhorne, Pa.

Jalen Reynolds, Xavier, F, Jr., 6-10, 232, Detroit, Mich.

2015-16 BIG EAST Preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team

Billy Garrett, Jr., DePaul, G, Jr., 6-6, 205, Chicago, Ill.

Henry Ellenson, Marquette, F, Fr., 6-10, 245, Rice Lake, Wis.

Angel Delgado, Seton Hall, F, So., 6-9, 230, Bajos De Haina, Dominican Republic

Isaiah Whitehead, Seton Hall, G, So., 6-4, 210, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Daniel Ochefu, Villanova, F, Sr., 6-11, 245, Baltimore, Md.

2015-16 Preseason All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention

Isaac Copeland, Georgetown, F, So., 6-9, 220, Raleigh, N.C.

Luke Fischer, Marquette, C, Jr., 6-11, 245, Germantown, Wis.

Jalen Brunson, Villanova, G, Fr., 6-2, 199, Lincolnshire, Ill.

Trevon Bluiett, Xavier, G, So., 6-6, 215, Indianapolis, Ind.