Big East Women's Basketball Media Day news and notes: DePaul near unanimous choice to repeat, Janning named preseason player of the year

Blue Demons look to be as potent as ever, selected to finish first yet again

Off the heels of a 27-6 season with a 15-3 record in conference, and a Big East regular season championship, the DePaul Blue Demons women's basketball team has been projected to be just as successful in 2014.

At Big East Media Day in New York City on Wednesday, it was revealed that the Blue Demons were chosen as a unanimous favorite to win the Big East Championship once again, after doing so in impressive fashion in the 2013-14 campaign.

Led by head coach Doug Bruno, whom is 521-284 in his career as head coach, with a 249-129 record in conference play, ranging from the days of The Great Midwest Conference and Conference USA, the Blue Demons have enjoyed a bevy of success, including three Sweet 16 appearances since 2005, including last year's run. Four starters will be returning to that squad, who finished at No. 16 in the Coaches' Poll and No. 23 in the Associated Press poll.

The full poll, per the Big East website, came in looking like this:

1. DePaul Blue Demons - 81 (9)

2. St. John's Red Storm - 73 (1)

3. Villanova Wildcats - 60

4. Creighton Bluejays - 55

5. Seton Hall Pirates - 51

6. Providence Friars - 36

7. Marquette Golden Eagles - 34

8. Georgetown Hoyas - 26

9. Xavier Musketeers - 24

10. Butler Bulldogs - 10

Creighton's Janning selected as preseason Player of the Year

Marissa Janning, a junior guard from Creighton, and the reigning and defending Big East Player of the Year, was also projected for another accolade like the Blue Demons were as she was selected as the conference's preseason Player of the Year by the conference's head coaches, as it was revealed on Wednesday.

Janning, a native of Watertown, Minnesota, led the conference as its most prolific scorer in the 2013-14 campaign, averaging 17.6 points per game, and came in at third in free-throw percentage and 3-point field goals as a sophomore. With another year of growth, it's not crazy to think she might be even more dynamic as a junior.

Rookie of the Year, All-Big East Women's Team announced

Georgetown Hoyas forward Dorothy Adomako of Midlothian, Virginia was named the Big East Conference's Preseason Freshman of the Year by the conference's head coaches. Adomako was named as the Gatorade Women's Basketball Player of the Year this past season, as she and the Cosby Titans went 25-0, netting a berth in the Group 6A State Championship while averaging a prodigious 21.5 points and nine rebounds per game.

The preseason All-Big East team was announced as well on Wednesday afternoon, and includes several seniors -- five to be precise -- as some of the conference's best netted the distinction of being selected to the team, which looks as followed:

Guard, Caroline Coyer, Villanova

Guard, Danaejah Grant, St. John's

Guard, Aliyyah Handford, St. John's (Unanimous Selection)

Guard, Brittany Hrynko, DePaul (Unanimous Selection)

Guard, Arlesia Morse, Marquette

Guard, Ka-Deidre Simmons, Seton Hall (Unanimous Selection)

Guard, Megan Rogowski, DePaul (Unanimous Selection)

Forward, Alexis Harris, Providence

Forward, Tabatha Richardson-Smith, Seton Hall

Forward, Faith Woodard, Georgetown

Sophomore Providence guard Sarah Beal and senior St. John's forward Amber Thompson were named as honorable mentions.