The Wildcats have two players represented on the preseason All-Big East teams and individual honors.
Villanova has two players on the 2024-25 preseason All-Big East teams: Eric Dixon and newcomer Wooga Poplar.
Dixon was voted onto the preseason All-Big East first team, while Poplar was selected for the third team.
Dixon landed on the All-Big East second team in each of the last two years. He led the Wildcats last season in scoring and rebounding, with 16.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. He also shot 46.5% on the floor and 34.6% from long range.
Poplar, a Philadelphia native who transferred in from Miami, averaged 13.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game last season for the Hurricanes. The 6-foot-5 guard spent the last three years down in Miami. He shot 42.6% last year and a career-high 38.5% from beyond the arc.
This year marked the first time since realignment that the Big East expanded to three all-conference teams, after previously doing two all-conference teams and honorable mentions.
Creighton center and defensive stalwart Ryan Kalkbrenner was chosen as Big East preseason player of the year. UConn’s Liam McNeeley, a consensus top-20 prospect and McDonald’s All-American, was voted Big East preseason freshman of the year.
2024-25 Big East preseason honors
Big East preseason player of the year
Ryan Kalkbrenner, Sr., C, Creighton
Big East preseason freshman of the year
Liam McNeeley, F, UConn
Preseason All-Big East first team
Eric Dixon, Gr., F, Villanova
Bryce Hopkins, Sr., G/F, Providence
Kam Jones, Sr., G, Marquette
Alex Karaban, R-Jr., F, UConn
Kadary Richmond, Gr., G, St. John’s
Preseason All-Big East second team
Pierre Brooks, Sr., F, Butler
Zach Freemantle, Gr., F, Xavier
Dayvion McKnight, Gr., G, Xavier
Deivon Smith, Gr., G, St. John’s
Jahmyl Telfort, Gr., F, Butler
Preseason All-Big East third team
Steven Ashworth, Sr., G, Creighton
Ryan Conwell, Jr., G, Xavier
Jayden Epps, Jr., G, Georgetown
Aidan Mahaney, Jr., G, UConn
Wooga Poplar, Sr., G, Villanova