DENVER ? The Western Athletic Conference announced its men’s basketball preseason poll and all-WAC teams, as voted on by the nine head coaches in the league. Nevada was selected to win the WAC, while Nevada sophomore Armon Johnson was tabbed the league’s preseason Player of the Year.
Nevada, the 2007-08 WAC regular season co-champion, received seven first place votes and 63 points. Utah State captured second place with 57 points, receiving two first-place votes. New Mexico State took third place with 48 points. With 43 points, San Jose State was voted fourth. Boise State (30) and Louisiana Tech (29) followed closely behind in fifth and sixth place, respectively. Hawai?i (25) and Fresno State (20) finished seventh and eighth, respectively, while Idaho (9) was ranked ninth.
The coaches also voted on preseason first and second all-WAC teams. Nevada sophomore guard Armon Johnson, the 2007-08 WAC Freshman of the Year, leads the list of first-teamers. San Jose State junior center C.J. Webster and Utah State senior forward Gary Wilkinson, 2007-08 all-Newcomer team honorees, also earned spots on the preseason first team. New Mexico State guard Jonathan Gibson and Louisiana Tech guard Kyle Gibson round out the first team.
Second-team selections include Luke Babbitt (Nevada), Brandon Fields (Nevada), Anthony Thomas (Boise State), Tai Wesley (Utah State) and Jahmar Young (New Mexico State)
Nevada shared the 2007-08 regular season title with Boise State, Utah State, and New Mexico State. The team advanced to the first-ever College Basketball Invitational Tournament last season.
2008-09 Preseason Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll
Rank Teams (1st Place Votes) Points
1. Nevada (7) 63
2. Utah State (2) 57
3. New Mexico State 48
4. San Jose State 43
5. Boise State 30
6. Louisiana Tech 29
7. Hawai'i 25
8. Fresno State 20
9. Idaho 9
Preseason All-WAC Teams
First Team Second Team
Jonathan Gibson, Jr., G, New Mexico St. Luke Babbitt, Fr., F, Nevada
Kyle Gibson, Jr., G, Louisiana Tech Brandon Fields, Jr., G, Nevada
Armon Johnson, So., G, Nevada Anthony Thomas, Jr., F, Boise State
C.J. Webster, Jr., C, San Jose State Tai Wesley, So., F, Utah State
Gary Wilkinson, Sr., F, Utah State Jahmar Young, So., G, New Mexico St.
Player of the Year: Armon Johnson, Nevada