BYU favored to win fourth MWC title, Wyoming's Brandon Ewing tabbed top returning player
Oct. 17, 2007
MWC Media Slam - Utah Men's Segment
LITTLETON, Colo. -
LITTLETON, Colo. - The University of Utah men's basketball team was picked third in the Mountain West Conference Preseason Media Poll, released Tuesday afternoon at MWC Media Day, held at the studios of The Mtn.The Utes received two first-place votes and had 142 points in the poll. BYU was picked as the first-place team with 15 first-place votes and 181 points. UNLV was just in front of Utah, also with two first-place votes and 146 points.
Junior center Luke Nevill (Perth, Australia) was chosen as a member of the five-man Preseason All-MWC team. Nevill was a third-team All-MWC selection last season, while also earning USBWA and NABC All-District honors. Nevill led the Utes in scoring and rebounding last season, averaging 16.8 points and 7.7 boards per game. Nevill ranked ninth in the nation in field-goal percentage (.637) last season.
New Mexico garnered two first-place votes and 128 points to tie for fourth with San Diego State, who received one first-place vote and 128 points. Wyoming collected 120 points to finish sixth, followed by TCU in seventh with 58 points. Air Force was chosen eighth with 54 points, while Colorado State rounded out the poll in ninth place with 33 points.
BYU and UNLV earned NCAA Tournament berths last season, while Air Force and San Diego State were NIT participants. The Cougars captured the regular-season Mountain West title with a 13-3 mark and received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament following a runner-up finish in the MWC Tournament. UNLV posted a second-place finish in regular-season play (12-4) and became the second Mountain West team in three years to advance to the Sweet 16, earning the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament after capturing the MWC Tournament crown.
Overall, the MWC has had 18 NCAA Tournament appearances the past eight years. Since 2003, all nine MWC teams have participated in postseason play at least once.
Five institutions were represented on the preseason all-MWC team. Wyoming's Brandon Ewing was named the Top Returning Player, while San Diego State's Ryan Amoroso garnered Top Newcomer accolades. BYU's Jimmer Fredette received Top Freshman kudos. One senior and four juniors make up this year's preseason all-MWC team.
| 2007-08 Mountain West Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Media Poll | ||
| Rank | School (First Place Votes) | Points |
| 1. | BYU (15) | 181 |
| 2. | UNLV (2) | 146 |
| 3. | Utah (2) | 142 |
| 4. | New Mexico (2) | 128 |
| San Diego State (1) | 128 | |
| 6. | Wyoming | 120 |
| 7. | TCU | 58 |
| 8. | Air Force | 54 |
| 9. | Colorado State | 33 |
| 2007-08 Mountain West Conference Men's Basketball Preseason All-MWC | |||
| Name | Class | Position | Institution |
| Trent Plaisted | So. | F/C | BYU |
| J.R. Giddens | Sr. | G | New Mexico |
| Wink Adams | Jr. | G | UNLV |
| Luke Nevill | Jr. | C | Utah |
| Brandon Ewing | Jr. | G | Wyoming |
| Top
Returning Player Brandon Ewing, Jr., G, Wyoming | |||
| Top Newcomer Ryan Amoroso, Jr., F, San Diego State | |||
| Top Freshman Jimmer Fredette, BYU | |||
All-Conference Team Bios
Top Returning Player
Brandon Ewing (6-2, 190, Jr., G, Wyoming) - Named second-team
all-MWC in 2006-07. Also named first-team all-District VIII by USBWA
and second-team all-District 13 by NABC. Led MWC and ranked 28th
nationally in scoring (19.9 ppg) last season. First Wyoming player in
school history to reach 1,000-point career milestone before end of
sophomore year.
Trent Plaisted (6-11, 245, Jr., F/C, BYU) - Two-time all-MWC second-team honoree. Was the Cougars' top shot-blocker (1.4 bpg) and second-leading scorer (12.6 ppg) and rebounder (6.2 rpg) last season. Scored in double figures 21 times while posting three double-doubles in 2006-07. Also named to the 2007 MWC All-Tournament team. Earned Freshman All-America Second Team honors and MWC Freshman of the Year accolades in 2005-06.
J.R. Giddens (6-5, 205, Sr., G, New Mexico) - Honorable mention all-MWC in 2006-07. Recorded three double-doubles while leading the team and ranking seventh in the MWC in scoring (15.8 ppg) last season. Was the Lobos' second-leading rebounder (6.5 rpg) in 2006-07.
Wink Adams (6-0, 190, Jr., G, UNLV) - Second-team all-MWC selection last season. Team's second-leading scorer in 2006-07 (13.9 ppg), reaching the 20-point plateau on five occasions. Was the only Runnin' Rebel to start all 37 games last season, scoring in double figures in 27 of those contests.
Luke Nevill (7-1, 265, C, Utah) - USBWA and NABC All-District selection in 2006-07. Third-team all-MWC pick last season and honorable mention all-MWC as a freshman. Team's leading scorer (16.8 ppg) and rebounder (7.7) in 2006-07, while ranking ninth nationally in field goal percentage (63.7%).
Top Newcomer
Ryan Amoroso (6-8, 257, Jr., F, San Diego State) - Sat out the
2006-07 season after transferring to San Diego State from Marquette.
Made eight starts while playing in 57 games for the Golden Eagles from
2004-06, averaging 15.1 minutes, 5.8 points and 3.8 rebounds.
Top Freshman
Jimmer Fredette (6-2, 190, G, BYU) - A first-team All-State
selection in New York, closing out his high school career as the
all-time leading scorer at Glens Falls High School in Glens Fall, N.Y.
with 2,404 points. Averaged 28.8 points per game while making 81
three-pointers and shooting 92 percent from the free throw line as a
senior.
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