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. Utah State was selected to win the WAC, while Utah State senior Tai Wesley was tabbed the league’s preseason Player of the Year.
Utah State, the 2009-10 WAC regular season champion, received eight first place votes and 64 points. New Mexico State, the 2010 WAC tournament champion, captured second place with 55 points, receiving one first-place vote. Nevada took third place with 47 points. With 36 points, Boise State and Fresno State tied for the fourth spot. San Jose State (32) and Louisiana Tech (24) followed closely behind in sixth and seventh place, respectively. Idaho (19) and Hawai‘i (11) finished eighth and ninth, respectively.
Wesley, the coaches’ pick for preseason Player of the Year, was a first-team all-WAC selection last season for the Aggies as he led the team in scoring (13.7), rebounding (6.6) and blocked shots (1.31). He helped Utah State to a third-straight WAC regular season title and an at-large bid into last season’s NCAA Tournament.
The coaches also voted on preseason first and second all-WAC teams. Wesley leads the list of first-teamers. San Jose State senior guard Adrian Oliver and Fresno State sophomore center Greg Smith also earned spots on the preseason first team. New Mexico State junior forward Troy Gillenwater and senior forward Wendell McKines round out the first team selections.
Second-team selections include Tyler Newbold (Utah State), Daequon Montreal (Boise State), Olu Ashaolu (Louisiana Tech), Nate Bendall (Utah State) and Pooh Williams (Utah State).
2010-11 Preseason Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll
Rank Teams (1st Place Votes) Points
1. Utah State (8) 64
2. New Mexico State (1) 55
3. Nevada 47
4. Boise State 36
4. Fresno State 36
6. San Jose State 32
7. Louisiana Tech 24
8. Idaho 19
9. Hawai‘i 11
Preseason Coaches All-WAC Teams
First Team
Troy Gillenwater, Jr., F, New Mexico State
Wendell McKines, Sr., F, New Mexico State
Adrian Oliver, Sr., G, San Jose State
Greg Smith, So., C, Fresno State
Tai Wesley, Sr., F, Utah State
Second Team
Olu Ashaolu, Jr., F, Louisiana Tech
Nate Bendall, Sr., F, Utah State
Daequon Montreal, Sr., F, Boise State
Tyler Newbold, Sr., G, Utah State
Pooh Williams, Sr., G/F, Utah State
Player of the Year: Tai Wesley, Utah State