LAS VEGAS – New Mexico State is the unanimous preseason favorite to win the Western Athletic Conference men’s basketball title, while Aggie senior Daniel Mullings was selected as the WAC Preseason Player of the Year in a vote of the league’s eight head coaches, who could not vote for their own team or players.
The Aggies received 49 points and seven first-place votes to beat out Seattle U for top spot. The Redhawks captured second place with 38 points and the other first-place vote. Grand Canyon came in third with 35 points, while Utah Valley finished fourth with 28 points. Bakersfield came in fifth place with 27 points, just ahead of Missouri-Kansas City in sixth with 25 points. Chicago State (11) and Texas-Pan American (11) round out the poll.
Mullings, the reigning WAC Player of the Year, leads the list of Preseason All-WAC honorees. Joining him on the first team are teammate Tshilidzi Nephawe, Grand Canyon’s Jerome Garrison, Martez Harrison of Missouri-Kansas City and Isiah Umipig of Seattle U.
Second team selections include Daniel Alexander (Grand Canyon), Shaquille Boga (Texas-Pan American), DK Eldridge (New Mexico State), Zach Nelson (Utah Valley) and Clarke Rosenberg (Chicago State).
2014-15 Preseason Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll
| Rank |
Teams (1st-Place Votes) |
Points |
| 1. |
New Mexico State (7) |
49 |
| 2. |
Seattle U (1) |
38 |
| 3. |
Grand Canyon |
35 |
| 4. |
Utah Valley |
28 |
| 5. |
Bakersfield |
27 |
| 6. |
Missouri-Kansas City |
25 |
| T-7. |
Chicago State |
11 |
| T-7. |
Texas-Pan American |
11 |
2014-15 Preseason Men’s Basketball Coaches All-WAC TeamsFirst TeamJerome Garrison, Grand Canyon
Martez Harrison, Missouri-Kansas City
Daniel Mullings, New Mexico State
Tshilidzi Nephawe, New Mexico State
Isiah Umipig, Seattle U
Second TeamDaniel Alexander, Grand Canyon
Shaquille Boga, Texas-Pan American
DK Eldridge, New Mexico State
Zach Nelson, Utah Valley
Clarke Rosenberg, Chicago State
Preseason Player of the Year: Daniel Mullings, New Mexico State