Reno, Nevada - The Western Athletic Conference announced its mens basketball preseason coaches and media polls and all-WAC teams. In both polls, UTEP was picked to win the WAC while Rice's Michael Harris was selected the WACs preseason player of the year.
In the coaches' poll, UTEP received five first-place votes and 77 points to be picked first. The Miners were 24-8 last season, tied for the WACs regular season championship with a 13-5 mark, and played in the NCAA Tournament. Rice earned 75 points and the other five first-place votes for second place, just two points behind UTEP. The Owls were a NIT participant last season. Louisiana Tech received 59 points and was picked third followed by last years WAC co-champion and WAC Tournament champion, Nevada, with 53 points. The Wolf Pack advanced to the Sweet 16 in last years NCAA Tournament. Hawaii was picked fifth with 51 points followed by SMU with 45 and Boise State with 32. Both Hawaii and Boise State played in last years NIT. Tulsa received 27 points for eighth place followed by Fresno State (21) and San Jose State (10).
The coaches also voted on a first and second all-WAC team. Rice senior forward Michael Harris was voted the preseason Player of the Year. He is joined on the first team by UTEP senior guard Filiberto Rivera, SMU junior guard Bryan Hopkins, Hawaii junior forward Julian Sensley and Louisiana Tech sophomore forward Paul Millsap. Harris averaged 17.5 points and 8.9 rebounds for the Owls last year. Rivera averaged 11.2 points and 4.6 assists per game. Hopkins is the WACs leading returning scorer after averaging 17.7 points per game. Sensley averaged 12.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in his first season at Hawaii. Millsap averaged 15.6 points and a nation-best 12.5 rebounds per game to earn WAC Freshman of the Year honors last season.
The second team is comprised of Rices Jason McKrieth, Boise States Jermaine Blackburn, Tulsas Jarius Glenn, UTEPs Omar Thomas and Nevadas Nick Fazekas.
The 2004-05 season begins Tuesday, Nov. 16 when Tulsa hosts Wright State in the Preseason NIT. The 2005 WAC Tournament will be held in Reno, Nevada at the Lawlor Events Center, March 8-12.
2004-05 Preseason Mens Basketball Coaches PollRank Team (1st place votes) Points
1. UTEP (5) 77
2. Rice (5) 75
3. Louisiana Tech 59
4. Nevada 53
5. Hawaii 51
6. SMU 45
7. Boise State 32
8. Tulsa 27
9. Fresno State 21
10. San Jose State 10
Preseason All-WAC TeamsFirst-TeamFiliberto Rivera, Sr., G, UTEP
Bryan Hopkins, Jr., G, SMU
Michael Harris, Sr., F, Rice
Julian Sensley, Jr., F, Hawaii
Paul Millsap, So., F, Louisiana Tech
Second-TeamJason McKrieth, Sr., G, Rice
Jermaine Blackburn, Sr., G/F, Boise State
Jarius Glenn, Sr., F, Tulsa
Omar Thomas, Sr., F, UTEP
Nick Fazekas, So., F, Nevada
Player of the Year: Michael Harris, Rice
In the media poll, UTEP received 186 points and 13 of the 20 first-place votes. Rice with 178 points, earned five first-place votes and was picked second. Nevada garnered one first-place vote and 136 points for third, while Hawaii received the final first-place vote and 130 points to finish fourth. In fifth was Louisiana Tech with 127 points followed by Boise State with 111 points, SMU (75), Fresno State (71), Tulsa (65) and San Jose State (21).
Harris was picked as the Player of the Year while Hawaii junior forward Matthew Gipson was selected the Newcomer of the Year. The All-WAC team included Harris, Nevada sophomore forward Nick Fazekas, SMU junior guard Bryan Hopkins, Louisiana Tech sophomore forward Paul Millsap and UTEP senior guard Filiberto Rivera.
The following is the complete 2004-05 WAC mens basketball media poll with first-place votes in parentheses (points awarded on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis):
Rank Team Points
1. UTEP (13) 186
2. Rice (5) 178
3. Nevada (1) 136
4. Hawaii (1) 130
5. Louisiana Tech 127
6. Boise State 111
7. SMU 75
8. Fresno State 71
9. Tulsa 65
10. San Jose State 21
Preseason All-WAC TeamNick Fazekas, So., F, Nevada
Michael Harris, Sr., F, Rice
Bryan Hopkins, Jr., G, SMU
Paul Millsap, So., F, Louisiana Tech
Filiberto Rivera, Sr., G, UTEP
Preseason Player of the Year: Michael Harris, Sr., F, Rice
Preseason Newcomer of the Year: Matthew Gipson, Jr., F, Hawaii
-WAC-