UH men picked 7th by coaches, 8th by media in WAC hoops preseason poll
The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team was picked to finish seventh by the Western Athletic Conference coaches and eighth by the WAC media for the upcoming season in polls announced today.
Nevada is picked to win the WAC in both polls. Utah State and New Mexico State were picked to finish second and third, respectively, in both polls.
The coaches picked Armon Johnson of Nevada as the preseason player of the year, while the media picked Gary Wilkinson of Utah State. The media also picked Luke Babbitt of Nevada as the preseason newcomer of the year, while the coaches did not pick a newcomer of the year.
No UH players were picked to the preseason All-WAC teams.
WAC 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
Coaches Preseason All-WAC Teams
First Team
Jonathan Gibson, Jr., G, New Mexico St.
Kyle Gibson, Jr., G, Louisiana Tech
Armon Johnson, So., F, Nevada
C.J. Webster, Jr., C, San Jose State
Gary Wilkinson, Sr., F, Utah State
Player of the Year: Armon Johnson, Nevada
Second team
Luke Babbitt, Fr., F, Nevada
Brandon Fields, Jr., G, Nevada
Anthony Thomas, Jr., F, Boise State
Tai Wesley, So., F, Utah State
Jahmar Young, So., G, New Mexico St.
WAC Preseason Men's Basketball Media Poll
Rank Team Points
1. Nevada (20) 255
2. Utah State (4) 220
3. New Mexico State (2) 201
4. Louisiana Tech 149
5. Boise State (3) 142
6. San Jose State (1) 132
7. Fresno State 114
8. HAWAI'I 103
9. Idaho 34
Media Preseason All-WAC Team
Jonathan Gibson, Jr., G, New Mexico State
Kyle Gibson, Jr., G, Louisiana Tech
Armon Johnson, So., F, Nevada
C.J. Webster, Jr., C, San Jose State
Gary Wilkinson, Sr., F, Utah State
Preseason Player of the Year: Gary Wilkinson, Sr., F, Utah State
Newcomer of the Year: Luke Babbitt, Fr., F, Nevada