San Diego State is the media’s choice to win the Mountain West Conference regular-season title.
During today’s MWC media day being held in Denver, the Aztecs captured 21 of 30 first-place votes and 261 points for the top spot in the poll. The Aztecs won last season MWC tournament.
BYU collected five first-place votes and 220 points to finish second, followed closely by New Mexico, who garnered three first-place votes and 214 points for third place. UNLV claimed the remaining first-place vote and 203 points to land in fourth. Colorado State received 132 points to finish fifth, followed by Utah (105 points) in sixth, TCU (92 points) in seventh, Wyoming (88 points) in eighth and Air Force (35 points) in ninth to round out the poll.
BYU’s Jimmer Fredette was picked as preseason MWC player of the year, while New Mexico’s Drew Gordon was named preseason newcomer of the year and BYU’s Kyle Collinsworth was tabbed as preseason freshman of the year.
San Diego State returns all five starters among nine letterwinners from a 2009-10 team that compiled a 25-9 overall record and tied for third in MWC regular-season play (11-5). The Aztecs captured their third MWC Tournament crown and received the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, marking the program’s fifth consecutive postseason appearance.
BYU (30-6) turned in a second-place effort (13-3) in regular-season Conference action a year ago. The Cougars made their fourth straight postseason appearance, receiving an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament and advancing to the second round. BYU returns three starters and 10 letterwinners from a squad that posted a program-record 30 wins and closed out the 2009-10 season ranked 17th and 22nd in the final Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN Coaches’ polls, respectively.
The Mountain West will begin its 12th season of basketball competition on Friday, November 12.
