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.

"I would think with seven of eight back, we should be somewhere in that group," said Boylen of his team's fourth-place prediction. "It's indicative of the talent we have returning."

After winning 24 games and not getting an NCAA bid, New Mexico coach Steve Alford decided to upgrade his schedule with games at Creighton, Vanderbilt and Texas Tech and home games against Mississippi and Southern Miss.

The Lobos lost all-league player J.R. Giddens, but return four starters as well as swingman Tony Danridge, who sat out last year with an injury after scoring 12.1 points a game the year before.

Wyoming coach Heath Schroyer has one of the top players in the league in Brandon Ewing, who has started 93 straight games for the Cowboys. Ten new players are coming to Laramie, including guard Sean Ogirri, who started for Wichita State, Djibril Thiam, who played for Baylor and Adam Waddell, a 6-9 redshirt from Cody, Wyo.

Air Force will have a young team with seven freshmen on the roster. Coach Jeff Reynolds will rely on veterans such as senior guard Andrew Henke, Anwar Johnson and Evan Washington to carry the load. Among the freshman, 6-5 Taylor Stewart is one to watch.

Colorado State coach Tim Miles endured a tough first season, going 7-25 and 0-16 in league play. He said his goal for this year is to get into postseason play, which will require a winning overall record. The Rams will count on senior guard Marcus Walker, who was second in the league in scoring last year with a 17.1 average.

With just four players back, TCU was picked for last place. The Horned Frogs have the only new coach in the league in Jim Christian, who came from Kent State. Kevin Langford, a third-team all-league selection from last year is TCU's top player.

Preseason MWC men's basketball media poll

1. UNLV (16) ... 206
2. BYU (5) ... 181
3. San Diego St. (3) ... 170
4. Utah ... 148
5. New Mexico ... 132
6. Wyoming ... 75
7. Air Force ... 66
8. Colorado St. ... 53
9. TCU ... 49

Preseason MWC women's basketball media poll

1. Utah (16) ... 206
2. San Diego St. (6) ... 184
3. TCU (2) ... 161
4. New Mexico (2) ... 148
5. BYU ... 117
6. Wyoming ... 113
7. UNLV ... 80
8. Colorado St. ... 44
9. Air Force ... 36
()—first place votes

Preseason honors

PRESEASON CO-PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
Lee Cummard, BYU
Wink Adams, UNLV

PRESEASON NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Tre'Von Willis, UNLV

PRESEASON FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Phillip McDonald, N. Mexico

PRESEASON ALL-MWC
Lee Cummard, BYU
Lorenzo Wade, San Diego St.
Wink Adams, UNLV
Luke Nevill, Utah
Brandon Ewing, Wyoming

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E-mail: sor@desnews.com