Three starters and five of the top seven scorers return from a Sweet 16 team and are joined by one of the nation’s top five recruiting classes — and WVU basketball is picked to finish ninth in the Big East!

Perhaps it shouldn’t be a surprise. The one time since 2002 the Mountaineers weren’t been picked to finish in the lower half was for the 2005-06 season, when they were picked fifth.

WVU was picked to finish seventh in the West Division in the 14-team league in 2002-03, ninth in 2003-04, ninth in a 12-team league in 2004-05, 12th in the 16-team league in 2006-07 and 10th last season, Coach Bob Huggins’ first at WVU.

“‘Huggs’ reminds us every day,” WVU junior point guard Joe Mazzulla said. “They always pick us ninth or 10th and we always finish way ahead of what they think. This is no different. It helps more than it hurts right now.”

Connecticut was selected as the preseason favorite, followed, in order, by Louisville, Pitt and Notre Dame. UConn had nine first-place votes, with the Cardinals and Panthers getting three each. Notre Dame got the other first-place ballot.