Dec. 27, 2012

click here for coaches' preseason All-Big East team

Louisville tied for the 2012 Big East regular season title and is the favorite to capture the 2013 crown, in voting by the league’s head coaches as released by the conference office.

The Cardinals received eight first-place votes and 98 points to outdistance St. John’s, who had the other three first-place votes and 82 points. Notre Dame finished a close third with 81 points.

Connecticut was fourth with 74 points, followed by USF, Seton Hall, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Cincinnati, Georgetown and Villanova.

Louisville has won the Big East regular season title in three of the past four years. The Cardinals reached the NCAA Tournament for the seventh time in 2012 and advanced to the finals of the Tucson Regional.

St. John’s tied Louisville for the 2012 Big East regular season crown and has played in the NCAA Tournament five times in the past six seasons. The Red Storm won its seventh Big East tourney title in 2012.

The 2013 campaign begins on Friday, Feb. 15, with conference play kicking off the weekend of March 22-24. The Big East Championship will be held at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Fla., May 22-26. The championship game will be televised on ESPNU.

2013 Big East Preseason Poll

Team, Points (First Place) (2012 Big East, Overall Records)

1. Louisville 98 (8) (18-9, 41-22)

2. St. John’s 82 (3) (18-9, 40-23)

3. Notre Dame 81 (14-13, 31-27)

4. Connecticut 74 (16-11, 31-27-1)

5. USF 67 (17-10, 38-22)

6. Seton Hall 52 (17-10, 34-24)

7. Pittsburgh 46 (10-17, 28-28)

8. Rutgers 43 (16-11, 31-25)

9. Cincinnati 30 (7-20, 18-38)

10. Georgetown 18 (10-17, 24-29)

11. Villanova 14 (10-17, 28-27)