LAS VEGAS — The Mountain West Conference is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and according to the league's men's basketball coaches, this could be the strongest season ever.

Most teams return the majority of their starters (37 of 45 overall) and several new players could make an impact this year.

"It's clearly the strongest in the five years I've been here and I imagine it is in the 10 years the conference has existed," said UNLV coach Lon Kruger. "We've got experienced, veteran players and that makes a big difference."

"It's going to be a heck of a competitive league," said Utah coach Jim Boylen, whose team was picked for fourth. "It's tougher than last year. You're going to see a lot of close, competitive games."

"From top to bottom, this league is as good as it's ever been," added Wyoming coach Heath Schroyer, who was an assistant coach at BYU for several years. "There are no nights off in this league."

Defending champion BYU returns two starters and six letterwinners, but didn't get the nod as the conference favorite. That honor goes to UNLV, which received 16 first-place votes and 206 points to outdistance BYU with five first-place votes and 181 points.

"Where you're picked doesn't have a real impact on where you finish," BYU coach Dave Rose said. "I do think, in our situation, if you're not picked first, that shows we have a lot of work to do in order to finish first."

The Rebels, who won the tournament title on their homecourt for the second straight year, return three starters, including co-preseason player of the year Wink Adams, Utah native Joe Darger and Rene Rougeau.

However, the Rebels also have several new players who are expected to play large roles this year, including guard Tre'Von Willis, a transfer from Memphis, who was named preseason newcomer of the year and Darris Santee, a 6-8 forward from Midland JC.

The Cougars return all-conference guard Lee Cummard, who was picked as the co-player of the year along with Adams. Rose said he expects big things from returnees Jimmer Fredette, Chris Miles and Michael Loyd, along with Lamont Morgan, who redshirted last year and Noah Hartsock, who returned from an LDS mission.

San Diego State returns all five starters, including all-MWC guard Lorenzo Wade, Kyle Spain, Ryan Amoroso, Billy White and D.J. Gay. The Aztecs also have seven new players including 6-11 center Brian Carwell, a transfer from Illinois.

Boylen is excited about his team that has seven of eight top players returning. Luke Nevill, whose height on the roster has increased an inch to 7-foot-2, was named to the all-MWC preseason team and he'll be joined by starters Shaun Green, Carlon Brown, Lawrence Borha and Tyler Kepkay.