Louisville returns four starters from the team that reached the NCAA’s East Regional finals last season and adds incredible talent in the middle but gets picked second in the Big East pre-season basketball poll?

Still getting the new guy treatment, apparently. The Big East coaches will eventually catch on.

The Huskies received nine first-place votes and a total of 214 points in the poll. Four teams received first-place votes. Those four squads – UConn, Louisville, Pittsburgh and Notre Dame — were bunched at the top of the poll. UofL and Pitt, which had three first-place votes each, finished with 205 and 200 points, respectively. Notre Dame received one first-place vote and was fourth with 195 points.

Connecticut compiled a 24-9 record last season, including a 13-5 mark in league play. The Huskies have won or shared a regular-season league crown in four of the last seven seasons. Their one shot at a good UofL team during the regular season comes at Freedom Hall this year.

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By Charlie Springer

Charlie Springer is a former Louisville editor and sportswriter, a public affairs consultant, a UofL grad and longtime fan.