UConn’s Adama Sanogo is Big East preseason player of the year; men picked fourth in poll

Dom Amore, Hartford Courant
Updated ·2 min read
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UConn’s Adama Sanogo was voted the Big East preseason player of the year by the conference’s coaches. The Huskies were picked fourth, behind Creighton, Xavier and Villanova in the coaches’ preseason poll.

Sanogo, 6-9 junior, averaged 15.1 points last season, and led the league in rebounding with 9.7 per game.

Ayana Patterson represented the UConn women’s basketball team as Big East freshman of the year. Caroline Ducharme, Aaliyah Edwards and Azzi Fudd were first —team all conference, with Dorka Juhasz honorable mention. Fudd and player of the year Maddie Segrist of Villanova were unanimous choices.

Patterson, a McDonald’s All-American from Fort Wayne, Ind., is the Huskies’ third straight freshman of the year in the conference, following Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd.

Sanogo was joined on the preseason All-Big East men’s team by Ryan Kalkbrenner of Creighton, Jared Bynum of Providence, Posh Alexander of St. John’s and Colby Jones and Jack Nunge, both of Xavier. No other UConn players were selected for the second team, or honorable mention.

Following UConn in the men’s poll were Providence, St. John’s, Seton Hall, Butler, Marquette, Georgetown and DePaul.

“With all the great players in the BIG EAST, I’m honored that I was picked as Preseason Player of the Year,” Sanogo said. “I would like to thank the coaches who voted for me and my UConn coaches and teammates for their support. I will try to live up to the honor this season.”

Sanogo is the seventh UConn player to be Big East preseason player of the year, following Corny Thompson (1981), Donyell Marshall (1993), Richard Hamilton (1998), Khalid El-Amin (1999), Emeka Okafor (2003-04) and Rudy Gay (2005).

“We’re excited for Adama,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said. “This well-earned recognition is the product of a great deal of hard work and dedication. “Not since Rudy Gay in 2005 has a Husky been named preseason player of the year. Adama is very deserving and we anticipate an excellent junior season for him.”