RENO - In conjunction with the WAC Media Days being held today in Reno, Nevada, the Western Athletic Conference announced its men's basketball preseason coaches and media polls and all-WAC teams. In both polls, Nevada was picked to win the WAC while the Wolf Pack's Nick Fazekas was selected the WACs preseason player of the year. All 18 men's and women's coaches, along with some of the top players in the league, are at the Eldorado Hotel in Reno for the WAC's annual Basketball Media Day.
In the coaches' poll, Nevada received eight first-place votes and 64 points to be picked first. The Wolf Pack was 25-7 last season (16-2 in the WAC), and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Hawai'i received the other first-place vote and tied with Utah State for second with 50 points. Utah State was an NCAA Tournament participant last season. Louisiana Tech received 45 points and was picked fourth followed by Fresno State with 38 points. Boise State was picked sixth with 30 points followed by San Jose State (18), New Mexico State (17) and Idaho (12).
The coaches also voted on a first and second all-WAC team. Nevada junior forward Nick Fazekas was voted the preseason Player of the Year after earning the 2004-05 WAC Player of the Year award. He is joined on the first team by Louisiana Tech junior forward Paul Millsap, Fresno State junior guard Ja'Vance Coleman, Hawai'i senior forward Julian Sensley and Utah State sophomore guard Jaycee Carroll. Fazekas led the WAC in scoring with 20.7 points last year and also averaged 9.4 rebounds per game. Millsap led the nation in rebounding for the second consecutive year with 12.4 rebounds per game. He also averaged 20.4 points per contest. Coleman led the Bulldogs in scoring with 16.9 points per game. Sensley averaged 12.0 points and 6.9 rebounds per game at Hawai'i. Carroll averaged 14.7 points and was named the Big West Freshman of the Year last season.
The second team is comprised of Hawai'i's Matt Gibson, Boise State's Coby Karl, Utah State's Nate Harris, Nevada's Ramon Sessions (last year's WAC Freshman of the Year) and San Jose State's Alex Elam.
The 2005-06 season begins Thursday, Nov. 10 when San Jose State competes in the Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament in Lubbock, Texas. The 2006 WAC Tournament will be held in Reno, Nevada at the Lawlor Events Center, March 7-11.
2005-06 Preseason Men's Basketball Coaches Poll
Rank Team (1st place votes) Points
1. Nevada (8) 64
2. Hawai'i (1) 50
Utah State 50
4. Louisiana Tech 45
5. Fresno State 38
6. Boise State 30
7. San Jose State 18
8. New Mexico State 17
9. Idaho 12
Preseason All-WAC Teams
First-Team
Nick Fazekas, Jr., F, Nevada
Paul Millsap, Jr., F, Louisiana Tech
Ja'Vance Coleman, Jr., G, Fresno State
Julian Sensley, Sr., F, Hawai'i
Jaycee Carroll, So., G, Utah State
Second-Team
Matt Gibson, Jr., G, Hawai'i
Coby Karl, Jr., G, Boise State
Nate Harris, Sr., F, Utah State
Ramon Sessions, So., G, Nevada
Alex Elam, Sr., G/F, San Jose State
Player of the Year: Nick Fazekas, Nevada
In the media poll, Nevada received 198 points and all 22 first-place votes.
WAC newcomer Utah State was picked second with 161 points. Fresno State garnered 139 points for third place followed by Hawai'i with 136 points.
Louisiana Tech was a close fifth with 132 points. In sixth was Boise State with 87 points followed by New Mexico State (61), Idaho (40) and San Jose State (36).
Nevada junior forward Nick Fazekas and Louisiana Tech junior guard Jerome Richardson were named the preseason Player and Newcomer of the Year, respectively. Fazekas was selected Player of the Year on 18 ballots while Richardson was voted on by six media members. The All-WAC team included Fazekas, Louisiana Tech junior forward Paul Millsap, Fresno State junior guard Ja'Vance Coleman, Nevada sophomore guard Ramon Sessions and Utah State sophomore guard Jaycee Carroll.
The following is the complete 2005-06 WAC men's basketball media poll with first-place votes in parentheses (points awarded on a 9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis):
Rank Team (1st place votes) Points
1. Nevada (22) 198
2. Utah State 161
3. Fresno State 139
4. Hawai'i 136
5. Louisiana Tech 132
6. Boise State 87
7. New Mexico State 61
8. Idaho 40
9. San Jose State 36
Preseason All-WAC Team
Nick Fazekas, Jr., F, Nevada
Paul Millsap, Jr., F, Louisiana Tech
Ja'Vance Coleman, Jr., G, Fresno State
Ramon Sessions, So., G, Nevada
Jaycee Carroll, So., G, Utah State
Preseason Player of the Year: Nick Fazekas, Jr., F, Nevada
Preseason Newcomer of the Year: Jerome Richardson, Jr., G, Louisiana Tech