Colorado State coach Tim Miles found himself sharing rarefied air with regular 20-game winners Steve Alford of New Mexico and Lon Kruger of Nevada-Las Vegas.
Basketball practice can’t start soon enough for them, although it’s just coincidence their schools occupy the bottom tier of the Mountain West Conference’s football standings. All three coaches took the diplomatic route Tuesday during the MWC men’s basketball preview.
“I think people are looking forward to the season. They are excited about our prospects and what we can get done,” Miles said. “I think people understand where (CSU) football is in this point in time, but I think they are excited about the prospects of men’s basketball.”
In Albuquerque and Las Vegas, fans start thinking about basketball in July. CSU — picked to finish fifth in the MWC race, just behind New Mexico and UNLV, in the preseason poll released Tuesday — is generating its most excitement in years. San Diego State is the overwhelming favorite to win the MWC title, followed by Brigham Young.
“We are excited to get started, and I’m excited about the potential this team has,” Miles said. “We have more depth, more versatility, more balance than we’ve ever had.”
The Rams didn’t put anyone on the preseason all-MWC team, which has four seniors and one sophomore. But with almost everyone returning, redshirt sophomore guard Jesse Carr healthy and three freshman newcomers, CSU has moved beyond rebuilding.
As for the other places, basketball is a welcome reprieve in the fall, Alford said: “I don’t think it has anything to do with the football season. I just think people know when it gets in October in the Albuquerque and New Mexico area, they want to talk about basketball.”
Kruger said of tradition-bound UNLV fans: “This is the time of year people in Vegas just like basketball. I don’t think it’s a reflection of football.”
Miles’ news isn’t all good for CSU. He said senior guard Adam Nigon had shoulder surgery a week ago and will miss six to eight weeks. Sophomore forward Pierce Hornung, a former Ralston Valley star, has a stress fracture in his foot, and Miles expects him to miss two weeks.
Although Miles said he expected a middle-of-the-league projection based on the Rams’ fifth-place finish last season, “that’s not where we want to be. It has shown progress. I feel better that we’re gaining respect.” This is the CSU men’s highest MWC projection since No. 3 in the 2003-04 season.
Attitude worth a salute.
Air Force coach Jeff Reynolds hated to lose Ethan Michael, a 6-foot-8 transfer from the AFA Prep School, to a knee injury, but Reynolds couldn’t be more impressed with the newcomer.
Michael suffered the injury early in basic cadet training. Instead of going home and feeling sorry for himself, Reynolds said Michael insisted on participating in the survival training portion of BCT. “He was in Jacks Valley crawling around in the mud for two weeks.”
Natalie Meisler: 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com
Mountain West men’s basketball preseason poll
(First-place votes in parentheses)
Rk. School Pts.
1. San Diego State (21) 261
2. Brigham Young (5) 220
3. New Mexico (3) 214
4. UNLV (1) 203
5. Colorado State 132
6. Utah 105
7. Texas Christian 92
8. Wyoming 88
9. Air Force 35
PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Jimmer Fredette, Sr., G, BYU
Dairese Gary, Sr., G, New Mexico
Kawhi Leonard, So., F, San Diego State
Malcolm Thomas, Sr., F, San Diego State
Tre’Von Willis, Sr., G, UNLV
PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jimmer Fredette, Sr., G, BYU
PRESEASON NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Drew Gordon, Jr., F, New Mexico
PRESEASON FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Kyle Collinsworth, Fr., G, BYU
Big 12 women’s preseason awards
PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Brittney Griner, So., C, Baylor
PRESEASON NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Brooklyn Pope, So., F/C, Baylor
PRESEASON FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Odyssey Sims, G, Baylor
PRESEASON ALL-BIG 12 TEAM
Brittney Griner, So., C, Baylor
Melissa Jones, Sr., G, Baylor
Kelsey Bolte, Sr., G, Iowa State
Danielle Robinson, Sr., G, Oklahoma
Danielle Adams, Sr., F/C, Texas A&M
