Boston College Athletics
Men's Basketball Selected Second in BIG EAST Preseason Poll
October 24, 2002 | Men's Basketball
Oct. 24, 2002
Boston College was selected second in the East Division in the BIG EAST men's basketball poll and senior guard Troy Bell gained All-Conference first team accolades, according to a preseason vote of the league's 14 head coaches. The announcement was made at the conference's annual media day in New York City.
With four starters returning from last winter's 20-12 team, Boston College was placed second in the East Division. Connecticut, which won last season's East Division regular-season title, was ranked first. The Huskies received nine of the 14 first-place votes. Boston College and Villanova, which was selected third in the division, each received two first-place votes. Fourth-place St. John's gained one vote for the top spot.
In the West, defending division champion Pittsburgh gained 12 first-place votes to get the first-place nod. Georgetown was ranked second by the coaches, followed by Syracuse in third and Notre Dame in fourth. The Orangemen received two first-place votes.
Bell, an All-Conference first team selection last season, gained preseason first team honors. He was joined on the team by Pittsburgh guard Brandin Knight; St. John's guard Marcus Hatten; Miami forward Darius Rice; Georgetown forward Mike Sweetney; and Connecticut forward/center Emeka Okafor. Knight was selected as the 2002-03 Preseason Player of the Year.
Boston College begins its 2002-03 season with exhibition contests on Nov. 11 and Nov. 18. The Eagles host St. Joseph's on Nov. 23 (7:30 p.m.) in their regular-season opener.
