DENVER ? The 2007-08 Western Athletic Conference men’s basketball media poll has picked New Mexico State as this year’s favorite. Utah State senior guard Jaycee Carroll and New Mexico State freshman forward Herb Pope were named the preseason Player and Newcomer of the Year, respectively.
New Mexico State received 255 points and 13 first-place votes. Utah State was picked second with 250 points and 10 first-place votes. Nevada garnered 239 points with seven first-place votes for third place followed by Fresno State with 208 points. Boise State was fifth with 175 points followed by Hawai?i (151), Louisiana Tech (104), San Jose State (91) and Idaho (57).
Carroll was picked Player of the Year on 21 of 30 ballots while Pope was selected by 17 media members. Carroll was named first-team all-WAC last season and led the WAC in scoring, averaging 21.3 points per game. Pope is a freshman forward from Aliquippa, Pa., and averaged 19 points per game his senior season at Aliquippa High School.
The all-WAC team included Carrroll, Fresno State senior guard Kevin Bell, New Mexico State junior guard/forward Justin Hawkins, Boise State senior forward Reggie Larry and Nevada senior guard Marcelus Kemp.
The following is the complete 2007-08 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. New Mexico State (13) 255
2. Utah State (10) 250
3. Nevada (7) 239
4. Fresno State 208
5. Boise State 175
6. Hawai?i 151
7. Louisiana Tech 104
8. San Jose State 91
9. Idaho 57
Preseason All-WAC Team
Kevin Bell, Sr., G, Fresno State
Jaycee Carroll, Sr., G, Utah State
Justin Hawkins, Jr., G/F, New Mexico State
Reggie Larry, Sr, F, Boise State
Marcelus Kemp, Sr., G, Nevada
Preseason Player of the Year: Jaycee Carroll, Sr., G, Utah State
Preseason Newcomer of the Year: Herb Pope, Fr., F, New Mexico State