LAS VEGAS – 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. New Mexico State was selected to win the WAC, while New Mexico State junior Daniel Mullings was tabbed the league’s preseason Player of the Year.
New Mexico State received eight first place votes and 64 points. Seattle U captured second place with one first place vote and 45 points. Bakersfield took third place with 42 points. With 40 points, Idaho and Utah Valley tied for the fourth spot. Chicago State (34) and Texas-Pan American (22) followed closely behind in sixth and seventh place, respectively. Grand Canyon was picked eighth with 19 points, while Kansas City was selected ninth with 17 points.
Mullings, the coaches’ pick for preseason Player of the Year, was named to the second team All-WAC team last season after he led the Aggies in scoring at 13.8 points per game.
The coaches also voted on preseason first and second all-WAC teams. Mullings led the list of first-teamers. Bakersfield junior forward Brandon Barnes and Idaho senior forward Stephen Madison also earned spots on the preseason first team. New Mexico State sophomore center Sim Bhullar and Utah Valley senior center Ben Aird round out the first team selections.
Second-team selections include Quinton Pippen (Chicago State), Demetrius Walker (Grand Canyon), Connor Hill (Idaho), Clarence Trent (Seattle U), and Holton Hunsaker (Utah Valley).
2013-14 Preseason Men's Basketball Coaches' Poll
| Rank |
Teams (first place votes) |
Points |
| 1. |
New Mexico State (8) |
64 |
| 2. |
Seattle U (1) |
45 |
| 3. |
Bakersfield |
42 |
| T-4. |
Idaho |
40 |
| T-4. |
Utah Valley |
40 |
| 6. |
Chicago State |
34 |
| 7. |
Texas-Pan American |
22 |
| 8. |
Grand Canyon |
19 |
| 9. |
Kansas City |
17 |
Preseason Coaches' All-WAC Teams
First Team
Ben Aird, Sr., C, Utah Valley
Brandon Barnes, Jr., F, Bakersfield
Sim Bhullar, So., C, New Mexico State
Stephen Madison, Sr., F, Idaho
Daniel Mullings, Jr., G, New Mexico State
Second Team
Connor Hill, Jr., G, Idaho
Holton Hunsaker, Sr., G, Utah Valley
Quinton Pippen, Sr., G/F, Chicago State
Clarence Trent, Sr., F, Seattle U
Demetrius Walker, Sr., G, Grand Canyon
Preseason Player of the Year: Daniel Mullings, New Mexico State