Oct. 26, 2006

LAS VEGAS - The UNLV men's basketball team was picked to finish in sixth place in the Mountain West Conference this season as the league released its 2006-07 men's basketball preseason media poll and all-conference team Thursday at MWC Media Day held at the Aladdin Hotel.

Conference media selected defending regular-season champion San Diego State to repeat as the MWC men's basketball champion, marking the second straight season the Aztecs have been picked to win the crown.

Three teams earned at least one first-place vote, with SDSU capturing 17-of-21 first-place votes and 192 points for the top spot in the poll. BYU earned one first-place vote and finished second with 156 points, while Air Force garnered three first-place votes and 147 points to place third.

Utah received 114 points to finish fourth, followed by New Mexico and UNLV in fifth and sixth with 101 and 99 points, respectively. Colorado State was chosen seventh in the poll with 68 points. 2006 MWC Tournament runner-up Wyoming (51) and TCU (27) rounded out the poll.

San Diego State and Air Force earned NCAA Tournament berths last season. The Aztecs captured the regular-season MWC title with a 13-3 mark and were the league's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament after winning the MWC Tournament crown. SDSU became the first team in MWC history to win an outright regular-season title and conference tournament championship in the same season. UNLV (2000) and BYU (2001) each won a share of the regular-season crown before winning conference tournament titles in the same year.

Overall, the MWC has had 13 NCAA Tournament appearances the past five years. Since 2002, all nine MWC teams have participated in postseason play at least once. All eight charter members of the MWC have participated in the NCAA Tournament at least once in the last seven years. TCU's last appearance in the NCAA Tournament was in 1998.

Four teams were represented on the preseason all-MWC team with San Diego State earning Top Returning Player honors (Brandon Heath) and Utah garnering Top Newcomer (Stephen Weigh) accolades. Three seniors, a junior and a sophomore made up this year's preseason all-MWC team.

The Runnin' Rebels, who enter their third season under head coach Lon Kruger, return nine letterwinners for this season including three starters from last year. The roster is an experienced one with eight upperclassmen and a total of five seniors.

UNLV finished 17-13 overall in 2005-06 with a 10-6 mark in conference play, which earned a fourth-place finish in the league.

As the UNLV men's basketball team prepares for the 2006-07 season, fans will have an early chance to meet and get to know the team on Saturday, October 28.

The event, which is free and open to the public, begins at 10 a.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center. Free food will be available along with the opportunity for fans to get autographs and take pictures with members of the Runnin' Rebels. Additionally, the first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a free balcony ticket to UNLV's exhibition game on Nov. 7 vs. Dixie State College. At halftime of that game, former Rebel great Greg Anthony's jersey will be retired. That night at 5 p.m. former Runnin' Rebel players will participate in alumni games.

Posters and schedule cards will also be given out at the meet the team event and the function will feature music and giveaway prizes. Fans will be able to interact with the players and coaches on the court following the team's scrimmage. The event will conclude at 12 p.m.

UNLV opens the regular season on Friday, Nov. 10 at home against Hawaii. The game against the Rainbow Warriors will mark the first of five straight home games to open the season. The full season schedule may be accessed online at UNLVRebels.com.

Preseason Media PollSchool (First Place Votes)          Points1.  San Diego State (17)    1922.  BYU (1)         1563.  Air Force (3)       1474.  Utah            1145.  New Mexico      1016.  UNLV            997.  Colorado State      688.  Wyoming         519.  TCU         27

Preseason All-MWCJacob Burtschi, Sr., F, Air ForceTrent Plaisted, So., F/C, BYUJason Smith, Jr., F, Colorado StateMohamed Abukar, Sr., F, San Diego StateBrandon Heath, Sr., G, San Diego State

Top Returning PlayerBrandon Heath, Sr., G, San Diego State

Top FreshmanStephen Weigh, G/F, Utah