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twitterUNLV basketball picked third in preseason MWC media poll
Willis named all-conference, Jasper tapped as Newcomer of the Year
Justin M. Bowen
UNLV’s Tre’von Willis drives in against Bryce Cartwright at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, Calif., on Dec. 3, 2008.
Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009 | 1:33 p.m.
The Mountain West Conference on Tuesday released its 2009-10 preseason media men's basketball poll and all-conference selections.
UNLV, which was picked first in last year's preseason prognostications, didn't receive any first place votes from the 24 media ballots, and comes in third behind BYU and San Diego State.
It may be a favorable position for the Rebels, who will fly under the radar to start the season with plenty of fresh faces on their roster.
BYU received 23 of the 24 first place votes after finishing tied for first in the Mountain West at 12-4 last season with Utah and New Mexico.
The other first place vote went to San Diego State, who made it to the NIT semifinals last spring.
Following UNLV, in order, is Utah, New Mexico, Wyoming, TCU, Colorado State and Air Force.
BYU landed two on the preseason all-conference team, with junior guard Jimmer Fredette and senior forward/Bishop Gorman grad Jonathan Tavernari garnering mention. Rounding out the five-man squad is SDSU junior forward/Green Valley grad Billy White, TCU senior forward Zvonko Buljan and UNLV junior guard Tre'Von Willis.
Fredette was named the preseason Player of the Year, while UNLV junior guard Derrick Jasper was voted the league's preseason Newcomer of the Year.
Fredette averaged 16.2 points, 4.1 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game last year for the Cougars, who lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Texas A&M.
Jasper will be playing his first games this fall since the 2008 NCAA Tournament, when his two-year run at Kentucky came to a close. He sat out last year per NCAA transfer rules, using the time to allow his left knee to fully heal from microfracture surgery.
The preseason Freshman of the Year is SDSU forward Kawhi Leonard — a Riverside, Calif., product who Rivals.com ranked as the No. 48 prospect in the nation in last year's senior class.
UNLV's season kicks off on Friday, Oct. 16, with FirstLook 2009 at the Thomas & Mack Center — an event that is free to the public. The Rebels' first exhibition game is on Nov. 10 at home against Washburn.
Ryan Greene can be reached at ryan.greene@lasvegassun.com or 702-948-7844.
Discussion: 10 comments so far…
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I like the 3rd Spot. Coming in at Number One last season, in my opinion, allowed too many egos to swell. Guys expected wins rather than working for them. Here's to what I hope will be a great season. Go get yours, Rebs!
NevadaSouthern, so true. I agree with you 100 percent. That was my first reaction. Not having that target is the best thing for this team.
Definitely, Rob. It'll give the team some time to jell and learn each other's strengths and weaknesses against adversity. Judging by the talent we have this year, the cross hairs will be there soon enough.
Rob, what's the deal with only 5 out of 15 non-conference games being televised?
Is it Oct. 16th yet?
UNLV will finish 6th.
wow still no faith sufferin...what is it now dude?!?
UNLV finished 5th place in conference last year. TCU, Wyoming and Colorado State will all be improved this season. UNLV will be worse.
If they finish in 6th place, CELEBRATE!
Sufferin,
Its like trying to reason with a retarded kid with you. You make false accusations, and back them up with fabricated ideas.
Wyoming and CSU both lost their top scorers, and will not be a major threat to UNLV. TCU is slightly improved, but if you take one minute to look at our team, we are far more than "improved". This will be the best team we have had in over a decade.
I dont care what the results were last year, because thats all it is, LAST YEAR! Each team in the conference has lost some good players and have filled those spots with the best people they can find. UNLV has the best atheletes right now, which is all that I can ask for.
Why dont you stop bashing the team and program, and get a life. I swear if I ever see you at a game you better be in the opposing teams colors, because no one likes you here.
Haha really, 6th place? I guarantee you no one in the entire country that has any actual knowledge of MWC basketball would predict anything near that low for our team this year.
These stupid sky-is-falling fans like SufferinSuckaD. are the reason Vegas will never have a pro sports team.