BYU, Utah Utes basketball: Y. favorite to win MWC title; Utes picked fourth

With four starters returning from last year's co-championship team, BYU is the overwhelming favorite to win the Mountain West Conference basketball title this year.

The Cougars received 23 of 24 first-place votes from the media in the annual preseason poll, which was released Tuesday at the league's media day in Denver.

Last year's tournament and regular-season co-champion Utah, which lost its top four scorers from last year, is picked for fourth.

BYU also put two players, senior Jonathan Tavernari and junior Jimmer Fredette, on the preseason all-conference team with Fredette being tapped as the preseason player of the year.

San Diego State, which returns three starters and has some talented new players, received the other first-place vote and was picked for second with 166 points. UNLV was picked third with 161 points, with Utah fourth with 143 points, just ahead of New Mexico with 141. Wyoming was picked sixth, followed by TCU, Colorado State and Air Force.

BYU coach Dave Rose wasn't surprised to be picked No. 1, saying, "we have the most returning players and the most experience."

He noted that his team was picked to win two years ago and ended up winning and said of being picked first this year, "I don't think this will put any more pressure on us."

Utah coach Jim Boylen agrees with the Cougars taking the role of the favorite.

"I think BYU being picked No. 1 is right, and we're all chasing them," he said.

While Boylen hopes to challenge for the league championship again this year, he said, "Whether we're picked fourth, fifth or sixth, it's really how you finish and we all know that."

Joining Fredette and Tavernari on the all-league team are San Diego State's junior forward Billy White, TCU's junior forward Zvonko Buljan and UNLV's junior guard Tre'Von Willis.

San Diego State's Kawhi Leonard, a highly touted high school guard from Riverside, Calif., was named freshman of the year, while UNLV's Derrick Jasper, a transfer from Kentucky, was named newcomer of the year.

MWC preseason media poll

Rank School (First-Place Votes) Points

1. BYU (23) 215

2. San Diego State (1) 166

3. UNLV 161

4. Utah 143

5. New Mexico 141

6. Wyoming 89

7. TCU 82

8. Colorado State 58

9. Air Force 25

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