NEW YORK -- Whether it was Villanova's Final Four trip last season or his bench demeanor, Wildcats coach Jay Wright has made a big impression on a majority of the Big East players.Wright was the top vote-getter in FanHouse's poll of the league's players asking which coach, other than their own, they would like to play for. Wright, who received 29.7 percent of the votes, edged Syracuse's Jim Boeheim, with 24.3 percent.
Two weeks ago at the Big East's media day, FanHouse polled 37 players representing all 16 schools that attended Madison Square Garden on a variety of subjects. The players were guaranteed anonymity for their responses with only one stipulation: they could not vote for their coach, a teammate or their school in any of the categories.
While the players voted for Wright as the coach they would like to play for, Seton Hall's Bobby Gonzalez (24.3 percent) edged UConn's Jim Calhoun (21.6 percent) as the "opposing coach that screams the most."
Also, the players voted Notre Dame's Luke Harangody as the league's top player and UConn's Jerome Dyson as the league's top defender. Pittsburgh was the overwhelming choice as having the league's best fans, while South Florida was voted as having the worst fans.
Syracuse's Carrier Dome was voted the best arena by the players, while Rutgers' Louis Brown Athletic Center edged St. John's Carnesecca Arena as the league's worst arena.
Here are the complete results from FanHouse's polling of the league's players.
Which opposing coach would you like to play for?
1. Jay Wright, Villanova 29.7 percent (11 votes)
2. Jim Boeheim, Syracuse 24.3 percent (9 votes)
3. Bob Huggins, West Virginia 10.8 percent (4 votes)
Others receiving votes: Jim Calhoun, UConn (3 votes); Jamie Dixon, Pittsburgh (3 votes); Rick Pitino, Louisville (3 votes); John Thompson III, Georgetown (2 votes); Stan Heath, USF (1 vote); Norm Roberts, St. John's (1 vote).
Which school has the best fans?
1. Pittsburgh 37.8 percent (14 votes)
2. Syracuse 27 percent (10 votes)
3. West Virginia 10.8 percent (4 votes)
Others receiving votes: Louisville (3 votes); Notre Dame (2 votes); Villanova (2 votes); UConn (1 vote); Georgetown (1 vote).
Which school has the worst fans?
1. USF 24.3 percent (9 votes)
2. St. John's 18.9 percent (7 votes)
3. West Virginia 13.5 percent (5 votes)
Others receiving votes: DePaul (4 votes); Georgetown (3 votes); Seton Hall (3 votes); Syracuse (2 votes); Cincinnati (1 vote); Pittsburgh (1 vote); Providence (1 vote); Rutgers (1 vote).
Who is the league's best player?
1. Luke Harangody, Notre Dame 48.6 percent (18 votes)
2. Scottie Reynolds, Villanova 16.2 percent (6 votes)
3. Da'Sean Butler, West Virginia 13.5 percent (5 votes)
Others receiving votes: Devin Ebanks, West Virginia (3 votes); Greg Monroe, Georgetown (3 votes); Dominique Jones, USF (1 vote); Samardo Samuels, Louisville (1 vote).
Who is the league's best defender? (Seven players didn't name one)
1. Jerome Dyson, UConn 23.3 percent (7 votes)
2. Hamady Ndiaye, Rutgers 10 percent (3 votes)
(tie) Kemba Walker, UConn 10 percent (3 votes)
Others receiving votes: Malik Boothe, St. John's (2 votes); Eugene Harvey, Seton Hall (2 votes); Terrence Jennings, Louisville (2 votes); Stanley Robinson, UConn (2 votes); Jerry Smith, Louisville (2 votes); David Cubillan, Marquette (1 vote); Jermaine Dixon, Pittsburgh (1 vote), Lazar Hayward, Marquette (1 vote); Greg Monroe, Georgetown (1 vote); Arinze Onuaku, Syracuse (1 vote); Reggie Redding, Villanova (1 vote); Samardo Samuels, Louisville (1 vote).
What is the league's best arena?
1. Syracuse 27 percent (10 votes)
2. Pittsburgh 13.5 percent (5 votes)
(tie) St. John's Madison Square Garden 13.5 percent (5 votes)
Others receiving votes: West Virginia (4 votes); Georgetown (3 votes); Louisville (3 votes); Rutgers (2 votes); UConn (1 vote); Notre Dame (1 vote); Providence (1 vote); St. John's Carnesecca Arena (1 vote); Seton Hall (1 vote).
What is the league's worst arena?
1. Rutgers 18.9 percent (7 votes)
2. St. John's Carnesecca Arena 16.2 percent (6 votes)
3. Villanova The Pavilion 10.8 percent (4 votes)
Others receiving votes: DePaul (3 votes); Providence (3 votes); Seton Hall (3 votes); USF (3 votes); Notre Dame (2 votes); Syracuse (2 votes); Cincinnati (1 vote); Louisville (1 vote); Pittsburgh (1 vote); West Virginia (1 vote).
Which opposing coach screams the most during a game?
1. Bobby Gonzalez, Seton Hall 24.3 percent (9 votes)
2. Jim Calhoun, UConn 21.6 percent (8 votes)
3. Bob Huggins, West Virginia 16.2 percent (6 votes)
(tie) Rick Pitino, Louisville 16.2 percent (6 votes)
Others receiving votes: Mick Cronin, Cincinnati (5 votes); Fred Hill, Rutgers (2 votes); Jamie Dixon, Pittsburgh (1 vote).
