Oct. 24, 2004
The Mountain West Conference released its men’s and women’s basketball preseason media polls and all-conference teams today at the league’s media day being held at the Denver Renaissance Hotel. The University of New Mexico women’s team was picked to finish second in the league while the men were picked fourth. Senior guard Mandi Moore was chosen as a preseason all-conference team member on the women’s side. Senior forward Danny Granger was named to the men’s preseason all-conference team and was voted as the top returning player in the league.
The league media selected UNLV to claim the Mountain West Conference men’s basketball title, marking the first time the Runnin’ Rebels were picked first in the MWC preseason poll. UNLV tallied 182 total points and 14 of 25 first-place votes. Defending MWC Tournament champion Utah earned seven first-place votes and finished second in the poll with 169 points, while defending MWC regular season champion Air Force came in third-its highest-ever pick in the MWC poll-with 142 points and four first-place votes. New Mexico placed fourth with 122 points, followed by BYU (92), Colorado State (87), San Diego State (71) and Wyoming (35).
Air Force posted a 12-2 mark in MWC play last season and was the only team in the nation to win a regular season title after being selected last in the league’s preseason poll. The Falcons, who advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1962, became the fifth MWC team in as many years to win at least a share of the MWC regular season crown. BYU and Utah also advanced to the NCAA Tournament last season after finishing second and third, respectively, in the conference. Overall, the MWC has had nine NCAA Tournament appearances the past three years and is the only conference to have all its members participate in the postseason at least once in that span.
Six teams were represented on the preseason all-MWC team with New Mexico’s Danny Granger earning Top Returning Player honors. Three centers and two forwards made up the preseason all-MWC squad, while Wyoming forward/center Justin Williams was named Top Newcomer.
Men’s Preseason Media Poll
1. UNLV (14) – 182
2. Utah (7) – 169
3. Air Force (4) – 142
4. New Mexico – 122
5. BYU – 92
6. Colorado State – 87
7. San Diego State – 71
8. Wyoming – 35
Men’s Preseason All-MWC
Danny Granger, Sr., F, New Mexico
Odartey Blankson, Sr., F, UNLV
Andrew Bogut, So., F, Utah
Matt Nelson, Sr., C, Colorado State
Nick Welck, Jr., C, Air Force
Top Returning Player
Danny Granger, Sr., F, New Mexico
Top Newcomer
Justin Williams, Jr., F/C, Wyoming
On the women’s side, UNLV was tabbed as the preseason favorite, the first time the Rebels have been picked to finish atop the conference. It was the closest vote in conference history as UNLV received the most total points (134) but not the most first-place votes (5). New Mexico had eight first-place votes but finished tied for second with Utah with 131 points. Utah tallied seven first place votes. Coaches did not vote for their own team. Colorado State (92 points) placed fourth, followed by BYU (88 points), Wyoming (65 points), San Diego State (43 points) and Air Force (28 points).
Utah junior forward Kim Smith earned Top Returning Player honors for the second straight year, while Mary Martha Abell of BYU was named Top Newcomer. Four of the eight MWC teams were represented on the all-conference team, including four seniors and one junior. Smith, selected to the State Farm Wade Trophy and John R. Wooden preseason lists earlier this fall, is a two-time Kodak/WBCA honorable mention All-America. RanDee Henry of UNLV was last year’s top newcomer and she led the conference in scoring last year. UNLV’s Sherry McCracklin led the league in rebounding last year and was voted Co-Defensive Player of the Year. Ashley Elliott of Wyoming was a first-team all-MWC selection last season, while Mandi Moore of New Mexico was a second-team pick.
Women’s Preseason Media Poll
1. UNLV (5) – 134
2. New Mexico (8) – 131
Utah (7) – 131
4. Colorado State – 92
5. BYU – 88
6. Wyoming – 65
7. San Diego State – 43
8. Air Force – 28
Women’s Preseason All-MWC
Kim Smith, Jr., F, Utah
RanDee Henry, Sr., F/C, UNLV
Sherry McCracklin, Sr., F/C, UNLV
Mandi Moore, Sr., G, New Mexico
Ashley Elliot, Sr., G, Wyoming
Top Returning Player
Kim Smith, Jr., F, Utah
Top Newcomer
Mary Martha Abell, Fr., F, BYU