Oct. 13, 2005
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - The UNLV men's basketball team was picked to finish third behind San Diego State and Utah as the Mountain West Conference released its men's basketball preseason media poll and all-conference team Thursday at the league's media day being held at the University Park Marriott.
The Runnin' Rebels, who went 17-14 in Lon Kruger's first year as head coach, received three first-place votes for 137 points. Last year UNLV was the top pick in the preseason poll.
A league-record five teams earned at least one first-place vote, with SDSU capturing 10-of-22 first-place nods and 173 points for the top spot in the poll. Defending regular-season champion Utah earned six first-place votes and finished second with 159 points followed by UNLV. Air Force received two first-place votes and 123 points to finish fourth, followed by 2005 MWC Tournament champion New Mexico in the fifth-place spot with 120 points. League newcomer TCU was chosen sixth in the poll with 89 points and Wyoming was seventh with 74 points, despite receiving a first-place vote. Colorado State (65) and BYU (50) rounded out the poll.
Utah advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 last year after capturing the regular-season MWC title with a 13-1 mark, while New Mexico was the league's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament after winning the MWC Tournament crown. UNLV made its eighth appearance in postseason play in the past nine years with a trip to the NIT last year.
Overall, the MWC has had 11 NCAA Tournament appearances the past four years. Since 2002, all nine MWC teams have participated in postseason play at least once, including TCU's run to the NIT quarterfinals last season. With the Lobos' NCAA appearance in 2005, all eight charter members of the MWC have participated in the NCAA Tournament at least once in the last six years.
Four teams were represented on the preseason All-MWC team with San Diego State earning Top Returning Player (Marcus Slaughter) and Top Newcomer (Mohamed Abukar) honors. Two seniors, two juniors and a sophomore made up this year's preseason all-MWC team.
Preseason Media Poll
| Rank | School | (First Place Votes) | Points |
| 1. | San Diego State | (10) | 173 |
| 2. | Utah | (6) | 159 |
| 3. | UNLV | (3) | 137 |
| 4. | Air Force | (2) | 123 |
| 5. | New Mexico | 120 |
| 6. | TCU | | 89 |
| 7. | Wyoming | (1) | 74 |
| 8. | Colorado State | | 65 |
| 9. | BYU | | 50 |
Preseason All-MWC
Marcus Slaughter, Jr., F, San Diego State
Brandon Heath, Jr., G, San Diego State
Jason Smith, So., C, Colorado State
Nick Welch, Sr., C, Air Force
Bryant Markson, Sr., F, Utah
Top Returning Player
Marcus Slaughter, Jr., F, San Diego State
Top Newcomer
Mohamed Abukar, Jr., F, San Diego State
All-Conference Team Bios
Top Returning Player
Marcus Slaughter (6-8, 223, Jr., F, San Diego State) - Second-team all-MWC and MWC all-tournament selection last year. Increased his scoring average from his freshman to sophomore seasons by 9.9 points per game and finished fifth in league scoring with 17.8 points per outing. Top returning rebounder in the MWC after averaging 9.0 boards per game last year. A starter in 44 straight contests, he enters his junior campaign having scored in double figures in 27 consecutive games.
Brandon Heath (6-3, 183, Jr., G, San Diego State) - Second-team all-MWC last year. His 945 career points are the most by an Aztec player following his sophomore campaign in school history, and well ahead of the pace set by SDSU's all-time leading scorer Michael Cage. Heath's 532 points are the most ever by an Aztec sophomore. Top scorer and second-leading assist man returning to the MWC this season after averaging 18.3 ppg and 3.7 apg last year.
Jason Smith (7-0, 230, So., F, Colorado State) - Named MWC Freshman of the Year and all-MWC honorable mention in 2004-05. Ranked first among MWC freshmen in scoring (10.5 ppg) and rebounding (5.8 rpg). Led CSU with 36 blocks last season. Among all CSU freshman records, he ranked second in rebounding average (5.8 rpg) and third in scoring average (10.5 ppg) and blocked shots (36) at CSU.
Nick Welch (6-8, 210, Sr., C, Air Force) - NABC all-District 13 first-team and all-District 8 selection by the USBWA. Second-team all-MWC selection last year. Led team in assists (91) and blocks (15) and was second on the team in scoring (12.0 ppg), rebounding (3.6 rpg) and steals (40). Scored double figures in 11 of 14 MWC games. No. 6 on AFA's career list for three-point percentage at 37.8 percent (86-of-228).
Bryant Markson (6-7, 198, Sr., F, Utah) - Third-team all-MWC last year. Top returning scorer for the Utes after averaging 10.4 ppg in 22 starts in 2004-05. He is the only returning Ute to have played in every game last year. Averaged 13.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game in the first two rounds of the 2005 NCAA Tournament, while also shooting 55.6 percent from the field. Scored in double figures 23 times last season, including six of the last seven games.
Top Newcomer
Mohamed Abukar (6-10, 210, Jr., F, San Diego State) - Played in seven games for Florida last season, averaging 10.3 minutes, 5.0 points, and 1.4 rebounds. He connected on 8-of-10 shots and scored a career-high 22 points against Florida A&M. As a freshman, he played in 30 games and averaged 2.7 points and 2.1 rebounds on a team that finished 20-11 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Abukar attended Rancho Bernardo High and was one of only three high school players named to the 2002 USA Junior National team, which featured Carmelo Anthony and Dee Brown.
