Oct. 20, 2002

LAS VEGAS - The UNLV men's basketball team has been picked to finish the 2002-03 basketball season second in the Mountain West Conference as the preseason media poll and all-conference teams were announced Sunday at the league's media day held at the J.W. Marriott.

The league media selected Wyoming to claim the conference title for the second straight year with 141 total points and 12 of the possible 19 first-place votes. UNLV was picked second with 126 points and five first-place votes, while Utah came in third with 111 points and BYU fourth with 99. The Utes and Cougars each received one first-place vote. San Diego State placed fifth with 82 total points, followed by Colorado State (56), New Mexico (40) and Air Force (29).

UNLV seniors Dalron Johnson and Marcus Banks were the only teammates to make the preseason all-conference team. The other preseason All-MWC members were New Mexico's Ruben Douglas, Utah's Britton Johnsen and Wyoming's Marcus Bailey.

UNLV junior Demetrius Hunter was selected as the league's top newcomer and Bailey was named top returning player.

2002-03 MWC Preseason Media PollSchool (1st Place Votes)            Points1.  Wyoming (12)            1412.   UNLV (5)            1263.  Utah (1)            1114.  BYU (1)                 995.  San Diego State             826.  Colorado State              567.  New Mexico              408.  Air Force           29

2002-03 Preseason All-MWCRuben Douglas, Sr., New MexicoMarcus Banks, Sr., UNLVDalron Johnson, Sr., UNLVBritton Johnsen, Sr., UtahMarcus Bailey, Sr., Wyoming

2002-03 MWC Top Returning PlayerMarcus Bailey, Sr., Wyoming

2002-03 MWC Top NewcomerDemetrius Hunter, Jr., UNLV