UConn’s Adama Sanogo is Big East preseason player of the year; men picked fourth in poll, UConn women picked first – Hartford Courant

October 18, 2022 News Editor

BUFFALO, NEW YORK – MARCH 17: Adama Sanogo #21 of the Connecticut Huskies rebound the ball against the New Mexico State Aggies during the first half in the first round game of the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at KeyBank Center on March 17, 2022 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) ** OUTS – ELSENT, FPG, CM – OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD ** (Elsa / Getty Images)

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.

[ UConn men’s basketball among ‘others receiving votes’ in AP preseason top-25 poll ]

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.

Ayanna Patterson, of Homestead High School, poses for a photo Tuesday, March 8, 2022, at Woodside Middle School in Fort Wayne, Ind., Patterson won the coveted IndyStar Miss Basketball Award. (Alex Martin/The Indianapolis Star via AP) (Alex Martin/IndyStar/AP)

“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.”