Syracuse's McNamara, Connecticut's Gay Named Preseason Co-Players of the Year

Syracuse's McNamara, Connecticut's Gay Named Preseason Co-Players of the Year

Orange Guard Devendorf Selected Preseason Rookie of the Year.

	Syracuse guard Gerry McNamara was named 2005-06 BIG EAST Preseason Co-Player of the Year

Oct. 26, 2005

Senior guard Gerry McNamara of Syracuse and sophomore forward Rudy Gay of Connecticut were named 2005-06 BIG EAST Co-Players of the Year by a vote of the conference's head coaches. Syracuse freshman guard Eric Devendorf was picked Preseason Rookie of the Year.

A 6-2 senior, McNamara earned All-BIG EAST First Team recognition last season after averaging 15.8 points per game for the Orange. In league contests, he was even more productive, posting a 17.1 scoring mark and leading the league with an 89.8 free throw mark and a 2.3 steals average. For his career, the native of Scranton, Pa. is already the school's all-time leader in 3-point baskets with 297.

Gay, a 6-9, 220-pound sophomore, was the BIG EAST Co-Rookie of the Year in 2004-05. He shared the award with Georgetown's Jeff Green. The versatile Gay, who hails from Baltimore, Md., also shot 46.7 percent from 3-point range. Gay was the Preseason Rookie of the Year last year.

With the expansion of the BIG EAST to 16 teams, a 10-player Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team was announced. In addition to McNamara and Gay, preseason favorite Villanova placed three players on the squad - guards Randy Foye and Allan Ray and forward Curtis Sumpter.

Gay's teammate, junior center Josh Boone, was a unanimous selection. Also named to the squad were Louisville guard Taquan Dean, Pittsburgh guard Carl Krauser, St. John's guard Daryll Hill and West Virginia center Kevin Pittsnogle.

Devendorf, a 6-4 freshman from Bay City, Mich., played last season at Oak Hill Academy in Virginia. Oak Hill finished 34-2 and a No. 1 national ranking. Devendorf played in the McDonald's All-American game and was a co-MVP of the Roundball Classic. He earned third team Parade Magazine All-America honors.

2005-06 Preseason Co-Players of the Year
Rudy Gay, Connecticut
Gerry McNamara, Syracuse

2005-06 Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
* Josh Boone, Connecticut, C, Jr., 6-10, 237, Mt. Airy, Md.
Rudy Gay, Connecticut, F, So., 6-9, 220, Baltimore, Md.
Taquan Dean, Louisville, G, Sr., 6-3, 185, Red Bank, N.J.
Carl Krauser, Pittsburgh, G, Sr., 6-2, 200, Bronx, N.Y.
Daryll Hill, St. John's, G, Jr., 6-0, 167, Queens, N.Y.
* Gerry McNamara, Syracuse, G, Sr., 6-2, 182, Scranton, Pa.
Randy Foye, Villanova, G, Sr., 6-3, 205, Newark, N.J.
Allan Ray, Villanova, G, Sr., 6-2, 195, Bronx, N.Y.
Curtis Sumpter, Villanova, F, Sr., 6-7, 223, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Kevin Pittsnogle, West Virginia, C, Sr., 6-11, 250, Martinsburg, W.Va.

2005-06 Preseason All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention
Eric Hicks, Cincinnati, F, Sr., 6-6, 240, Greensboro, N.C.
Brandon Bowman, Georgetown, F, Sr., 6-8, 219, Santa Monica, Calif.
Jeff Green, Georgetown, F, So., 6-8, 225, Hyattsville, Md.
Chris Quinn, Notre Dame, G, Jr., 6-2, 185, Dublin, Ohio
* denotes unanimous selection