Coaches pick Pitt to finish 3rd in the Big East

The Pitt Panthers Men’s basketball team has been picked third in the 2008-09 Big East men's basketball preseason poll. Connecticut, with nine first-place votes, is the pre-season favorite, followed by Louisville (3 first-place votes). Pitt received three first-place votes, and fourth-place Notre Dame received the other first-place vote. Villinova is picked to finish 5th. West Virginia is picked to finish ninth after losing standout Joe Alexander to the NBA.

Notre Dame forward Luke Harangody was picked as the conference's preseason player of the year. Pitt’s Sam Young was a unanimous selection on the preseason All-Big East team. Young and Harangody were the only two players to be unanimous selections