DENVER ? The 2006-07 Western Athletic Conference men’s basketball media poll has tabbed Nevada as this year’s favorite for the second straight season. Nevada senior forward Nick Fazekas and New Mexico State junior guard Fred Peete were named the preseason Player and Newcomer of the Year, respectively.
Nevada received 199 points and 17 first-place votes. New Mexico State was picked second with 183 points and the remaining six first-place votes. Fresno State garnered 151 points for third place followed by Utah State with 143 points. Hawai?i was fifth with 112 points followed by Boise State (88), Louisiana Tech (80), San Jose State (54) and Idaho (25).
Fazekas was picked Player of the Year on 22 of 23 ballots while Peete was selected by five media members. Fazekas has been the WAC’s Player of the Year in each of the past two seasons and averaged 21.8 points and 10.4 rebounds last year. Peete is a transfer from Kansas State where he started all 29 games in 2004-05 and averaged 13.0 points per contest and led the team in steals with 62.
The all-WAC team included Fazekas, New Mexico State junior forward Tyrone Nelson, Boise State senior guard Coby Karl, Fresno State senior guard/forward Quinton Hosley and Utah State junior guard Jaycee Carroll.
The following is the complete 2006-07 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 Points
1. Nevada (17) 199
2. New Mexico State (6) 183
3. Fresno State 151
4. Utah State 143
5. Hawai?i 112
6. Boise State 88
7. Louisiana Tech 80
8. San Jose State 54
9. Idaho 25
Preseason All-WAC Team
Nick Fazekas, Sr., F, Nevada
Tyrone Nelson, Jr., F, New Mexico State
Coby Karl, Sr, G, Boise State
Quinton Hosley, Sr., G/F, Fresno State
Jaycee Carroll, Jr., G, Utah State
Preseason Player of the Year: Nick Fazekas, Sr., F, Nevada
Preseason Newcomer of the Year: Fred Peete, Jr., G, New Mexico State