Rebels second in poll

Steve Guiremand

Monday, Oct. 21, 2002 | 9:44 a.m.

Mountain West Basketball Preseason Polls

(First-place votes in parentheses)

If the Mountain West Conference's preseason media polls and all-conference teams released Sunday mean anything, UNLV basketball fans should be in for a banner year.

Charlie Spoonhour's Rebels were picked to finish second behind defending champion Wyoming, which returns four starters from a squad that upset Gonzaga in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and gave 2002 preseason No. 1 Arizona all it could handle in the second round before losing.

And two UNLV seniors, point guard Marcus Banks and forward Dalron Johnson, were selected to the five-man preseason all-Mountain West squad. Another Rebel, junior guard Demetrius Hunter, a transfer from Georgetown, was picked as the top newcomer in the conference.

Although happy to see some of his players recognized, Spoonhour, who coached UNLV to a 21-11 record and NIT berth a year ago, realizes no team has ever won a conference title in October.

"Last year we didn't have anyone picked (to the all-Mountain West team)," Spoonhour said. "Like I tell our players, it doesn't matter what people do in October. If they don't know who you are in March, then you have a problem.

"We're picked second. That's great. But if we're not there when all the smoke clears, then all of this was just for fun."

Johnson, who averaged 17.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocks last season, said he was happy to see himself and Banks picked to the preseason all-MWC squad.

"I think we deserved it," Johnson said. "We went out and played some good ball last year. Hopefully we can get our whole starting five on that team at the end of the season."

Wyoming coach Steve McClain said he is happy to take on the pressure of being the preseason favorite to win the Mountain West.

"Some coaches don't want to be picked first," McClain said. "But I think I'd be cheating my kids if I said I didn't want to be picked first. That's what you work for.

"This group was picked first last year and did it. Not many teams do that."

All the coaches agree that the Mountain West will be competitive from top to bottom.

"Nobody is going to win a bunch of games on the road in this league," BYU coach Steve Cleveland said. "I'll tell you that right now. Last year Wyoming won three or four road games, but they were all nail-biters right down to the end. I'm thinking (a 9-5 record) is looking like it could be a pretty good record in this league this year. And if everybody stays healthy, I can see two or three teams battling in the last week for the championship."

"Nine-and-five ... it doesn't sound that good," Johnson said. "But in this conference it could be enough to come out on top."

"There isn't one team I'm looking forward to playing," McClain said. "They're all talented and they're all improved. It's going to be a real challenge for whoever does win this league."

Meanwhile, Regina Miller's Lady Rebels, who must replace three-time Mountain West Conference Player of the Year Linda Frohlich, were picked fifth in the women's preseason poll.

Senior guard Constance Jinks, a three-time all-Mountain West pick, was picked to the preseason all-conference squad while Michigan transfer Infini Robinson was selected as top newcomer in the conference.

"I feel like our guard play will be outstanding," Miller said in noting that defensive wiz Julia Gray, solid senior backup Talisha Mitchell and Nike High School All-American Nejlah Clark also should be key contributers in the backcourt. "I feel like we have the best guards in the Mountain West Conference, perhaps even in the West."

Look for the Lady Rebels to use three and four guard alignments at times with the emphasis on pressing and fast breaking to better utilize their excellent speed.

Asked if her team will play an up-tempo style, Miller replied, "Extremely."

BYU, which returns three starters, including senior guard Erin Thorn and scrappy junior forward Jennifer Leitner from a squad that went 24-9 and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen last season, was picked to win the women's title with Colorado State a close second.