Utah State basketball: Ags pegged to win WAC

LOGAN — For the second consecutive year, the Utah State Aggies have been picked by both the coaches and the media to repeat as Western Athletic Conference champions.

"Expectations are always high for our team," head coach Stew Morrill said about the preseason ranking during Tuesday's WAC basketball preseason conference. "It's flattering. We appreciate the coaches and media giving us that respect, but it doesn't mean anything until you make it happen."

Utah State secured 19 of 30 possible first-place votes in the media poll and all eight opposing coaches voted the Aggies to finish atop the conference as well.

Morrill is found of the saying: "Individual recognition comes with team success," and the Aggies received heaps of individual recognition from the coaches and media as well.

Tai Wesley was chosen as the coaches' preseason player of the year and was on the media's first team all-conference.

"Tai is motivated to have his best season of his career," Morrill said. "Tai has become a leader for the team and has been very vocal."

Besides Wesley, the other three senior projected starters — Nate Bendall, Pooh Williams and Tyler Newbold — were all selected to the coaches' second team all-conference.

"I felt a little guilty nominating all the guys that I did," coach Morrill said about putting players from his team on his ballot for all-conference. "We were so balanced last year that I nominated all the veteran kids."

Rounding out the individual honors for the Aggies, junior college transfer point guard Brockeith Pane was selected as the media's preseason newcomer of the year.

Pane played for Midland Junior College in Texas, averaging 12 points and 2.9 assists last year for a program that was ranked as the No. 1 junior college basketball team for much of last season.

"It's hard to decide who is going to be the newcomer of the year," Morrill said. "I'm optimistic that Brockeith will be able to contribute, but we will see when we get into the heat of battle."

Pane is expected to take the starting point guard role that was vacated by the graduated Jared Quayle.

When asked about the all the individual honors the Aggies were given by the media and other coaches, Morrill responded by saying, "I hope they're right. It's flattering and I hope it gives the kids confidence, but we don't put a lot of stock into it."