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Providence College Athletics
Miles Byrd Earns All-BIG EAST Preseason Honors
10/1/2026 8:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The 6-6 guard, who played at San Diego State the last four seasons, was named to the Second Team.
PROVIDENCE, R.I.- It was announced today (Oct. 1) that Providence graduate student Miles Byrd (Stockton, Calif.) was named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team. Byrd, who transferred to Providence after spending the 2025-26 season at San Diego State, started all 33 games and averaged 10.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.9 steals for the Aztecs last season. For his efforts, he was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year and Third Team All-Mountain West. He also earned 2026 Second Team All-NABC Pacific District honors.
Byrd, a 6-6, 200-pound guard, played for San Diego State the last four seasons. In his four seasons at San Diego State, he helped lead the Aztecs to a 101-39 mark. The team also made three trips to the NCAA Tournament, including a berth in the NCAA title game in 2023. Â
In 2024-25, Byrd averaged 12.3 points and 4.4 rebounds, while starting all 30 games he played. The Aztecs posted a 21-10 mark and earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament. He recorded a career-high 25 points versus Colorado State on Jan. 14, 2025. Byrd also registered his career high in rebounds that season as he grabbed 11 boards at Fresno State on Dec. 4, 2024. Byrd received Mountain West All-Defensive Team, Second Team All-Mountain West and Second Team All-NABC Pacific District honors in recognition of his strong play in 2025.   Â
As a freshman, Byrd played in four games for SDSU as the team advanced to the NCAA Championship game after posting a 32-7 mark. In his sophomore season, he played in 34 games and averaged 4.0 points and 2.5 rebounds. Byrd helped the Aztecs earn an NCAA Tournament berth as the team posted a 2-1 record before losing in the Sweet 16.
Also announced on Oct. 1 was the 2026-27 BIG EAST Men's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Poll. The Friars recieved 59 points in the poll and were selected to finish fifth of 11 teams.
The Friars will host ACC foe Pittsburgh in an exhibition game on Saturday, October 17 at 2 p.m. The Friars will play a second exhibition game versus Georgia Tech, also from the ACC, on Saturday, October 24 at 12 p.m. Both games will be played at the Amica Mutual Pavilion. The team will open the 2026-27 season on November 3 as they host Maine at the Amica Mutual Pavilion. Fans interested in purchasing tickets can call 401-865-GO PC or visit Friars.com.Â
2026-27 BIG EAST Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
1. UConn (8) 98
2. St. John's (2) 90
3. Villanova 81
4. Marquette (1) 73
5. Providence 59
6. Xavier 54
7. Creighton 47
8. DePaul 32
9. Seton Hall 31
10. Georgetown 27
11. Butler 13
First place votes in parentheses
2026-27 BIG EAST Men's Basketball Preseason Honors
PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Silas Demary Jr., UConn, Sr., G, 6-4, 191, Raleigh, N.C.
PRESEASON FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Colben Landrew, UConn, Fr., F, 6-6, 236, McComb, Miss.
PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST FIRST TEAM
Braylon Mullins, UConn, So., G, 6-6, 198, Greenfield, Ind. *
Nigel James Jr., Marquette, So., G, 6-0, 195, Huntington, N.Y. *
Ian Jackson, St. John's, Jr., G, 6-5, 200, Bronx, N.Y.
Tounde Yessoufou, St. John's, So. G, 6-5, 220, Cotondou, Benin *
Tyler Perkins, Villanova, Sr., G, 6-4, 212, Lorton, Va.
* unanimous selection
PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST SECOND TEAM
Na'jai Hines, UConn, F, So., 6-11, 278, Plainfield, N.J.
Royce Parham, Marquette, Jr., F, 6-9, 235, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Miles Byrd, Providence, Gr., G, 6-6, 200, Stockton, Calif.
Kwame Evans Jr., Villanova, Sr., F, 6-10, 220, Baltimore, Md.
Devin Royal, Villanova, Sr., F, 6-6, 230, Columbus, Ohio
PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST THIRD TEAM
Oswin Erhunmwunse, Creighton, Jr., C, 6-10, 235, Benin City, Nigeria
Jackson McAndrew, Creighton, Jr., F, 6-10, 225, Wayzata, Minn.
Layden Blocker, DePaul, Sr., G, 6-2, 193, Little Rock, Ark.
Sananda Fru, Marquette, Sr., F, 6-11, 250, Berlin, Germany
Jovan Milicevic, Xavier, Jr., F, 6-10, 241, Toronto, Ontario
Mike Nwoko, Xavier, Sr., F, 6-10, 260, Toronto, Ontario
-GO FRIARS!-Â
Players Mentioned
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