DENVER - The 2001-02 Western Athletic Conference men's basketball media poll has tabbed Fresno State as this year's favorite for the third year in a row.
Fresno State received 114 points and 11 of the 13 first-place votes. Hawai`i with 98 points, earned one first-place vote and was picked second, followed closely by Tulsa with 96 points and the final first-place vote. UTEP received 79 points to be picked fourth followed by SMU with 60 points, Louisiana Tech (53), San Jose State (37), Boise State (31), Rice (16) and Nevada (14).
Fresno State and Tulsa each received six votes to win the 2002 Williams WAC Tournament, while last year's winner, Hawai`i, had one vote for tournament champion. This year's tournament will be played at Tulsa's Reynolds Center, March 5-9.
Also picked were the preseason All-WAC team and the Player and Newcomer of the Year. Fresno State senior center Melvin Ely earned Player of the Year honors on nine ballots while San Jose State junior forward Carlton Baker (a Barton County CC transfer) was picked as the Newcomer of the Year with four votes. The All-WAC team included Ely, SMU senior guard Damon Hancock, Fresno State junior forward Chris Jefferies, Tulsa junior forward Kevin Johnson and Hawai`i senior guard/forward Predrag Savovic.
The following is the complete 2001-02 WAC men's basketball media poll with first-place votes in parentheses (points awarded on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis):
Rk. Team Points
1. Fresno State (11) 114
2. Hawai`i (1) 98
3. Tulsa (1) 96
4. UTEP 79
5. SMU 60
6. Louisiana Tech 53
7. San Jose State 37
8. Boise State 31
9. Rice 16
10. Nevada 14
2002 WAC Tournament Champion: Fresno State (6), Tulsa (6), Hawai`i (1)
Preseason All-WAC TeamMelvin Ely, Fresno State
Damon Hancock, SMU
Chris Jefferies, Fresno State
Kevin Johnson, Tulsa
Predrag Savovic, Hawai`i
Preseason Player of the Year: Melvin Ely, Fresno State
Preseason Newcomer of the Year: Carlton Baker, San Jose State
-WAC-