In a more decisive count, senior center Roy Hibbert took home the solo honor of pre-season player of the year. The first Hoya to earn the honor since Alonzo Mourning (COL ’92) shared the title with St. John’s Malik Sealy in 1991, Hibbert was also a unanimous preseason all-Big East selection.

Still, Hibbert would still rather return to the Garden in March to swap that honor for another league title.

“It’s nice, but if I could trade that in for a Big East Championship, I would do that,” he said.

The 7-foot-2 senior averaged 12.9 points and 6.9 rebounds per game last year, shooting a league-best 67.1 percent from the field.

“I don’t know if there was ever a more clear-cut call,” Notre Dame Head Coach Mike Brey said of Hibbert’s award.

Louisville Head Coach Rick Pitino also spoke highly of Hibbert.

“I think he’s probably the No. 1 player you could pick in the NBA draft,” he said. “I think David Stern will announce him first next year.” But that doesn’t mean the coach of the co-favorite team is spending all his time worrying about the Hoyas: “I don’t see anyone, anywhere that could dominate this conference.”

Hibbert was joined by teammate and senior guard Jonathan Wallace on the preseason all-Big East team, Wallace’s first preseason distinction. He was named an all-Big East honorable mention at the completion of last season.

Louisville was also heavily represented with preseason distinctions. Senior center David Padgett and junior forward Terrence Williams both were named to the all-league team, while sophomore guard Edgar Sosa earned an honorable mention. Marquette, picked to finish third in the conference, also saw two of its players voted to the team: junior guards Dominic James and Jerel cNeal. The only other unanimous selection beside Hibbert came from Villanova in sophomore guard Scottie Reynolds.

Syracuse earned an honor of its own with freshman, forward Donte Greene and guard Jonny Flynn as the preseason co-rookies of the year.

The Hoyas tip off the 2006-2007 season Nov. 10 against William and Mary at Verizon Center.