January 29, 1999

Villanova, Pa.--- In the 1999 Big East Preseason Baseball Poll, the Villanova baseball team was picked to finish in eighth place. Notre Dame was picked as the preseason favorite to capture the Big East title followed by St. John's, Rutgers, West Virginia, Seton Hall, Connecticut, Providence and Villanova. Rounding out the poll are Pittsburgh in ninth place, Boston College in tenth and Georgetown in eleventh position. The preseason poll was voted on by the league's head coaches.

Notre Dame third baseman Brant Ust was chosen as the Big East Preseason Player of the Year, while St. John's pitcher Kevin McGerry was picked as the Big East Preseason Pitcher of the Year. The lone Villanova player among the Preseason All-Big East Team was Wildcat sophomore second baseman Matt Longo. An All-Big East second team selection in 1998, Longo hit .393 with 12 homeruns and 27 RBI. In addition to receiving conference honors, he was also a Collegiate Baseball All-American.

In 1998, the Villanova baseball team recorded a 26-21-1 overall record. In Big East play, the Wildcats posted a 6-15 mark and finished in eighth place. Villanva will begin the 1999 season, traveling to North Carolina State on Feb. 19, to face the Wolfwack for a three-game series. From there, the Cats will travel to Florida to resume their spring break trip from Feb. 27-Mar. 6.