Oct. 12, 2010
DENVER (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV men's basketball team was picked to finish fourth in the Mountain West Conference in 2011 as the league released its preseason media poll and all-conference team on Tuesday at the league's media day being held at The Mtn. studios.
Runnin' Rebel senior guard Tre'Von Willis was named to the preseason all-conference team.
Conference media selected defending MWC Tournament champion San Diego State as the preseason favorite to win the MWC men's basketball regular-season title in 2010-11. The Aztecs captured 21 of 30 first-place votes and 261 points for the top spot in the poll. BYU collected five first-place votes and 220 points to grab second, followed by New Mexico with three first-place votes and 214 points for third.
UNLV claimed the remaining first-place vote and 203 points for fourth. Colorado State was fifth with 132 points, Utah was sixth (105 points), TCU was seventh (92 points), Wyoming was eighth (88 points) and Air Force was ninth (35 points) to round out the poll.
Following its championship-game appearance in last season's MWC Tournament, the Runnin' Rebels made their fourth straight postseason appearance with an at-large invitation to the NCAA Tournament. It marked UNLV's third NCAA Tournament trip in the last four seasons. Head coach Lon Kruger's team returns all five starters from last year's squad that tied for third place (11-5) in MWC play and closed out the 2009-10 season with a 25-9 overall record.
BYU's Jimmer Fredette received Preseason MWC Player of the Year honors, while New Mexico junior forward Drew Gordon garnered Preseason Newcomer of the year accolades and BYU guard Kyle Collinsworth earned the Preseason Freshman of the Year nod.
Four seniors and one sophomore representing four institutions were chosen for the 2010-11 preseason All-MWC team, which consisted of Fredette (a senior guard), New Mexico senior guard Dairese Gary, San Diego State sophomore forward Kawhi Leonard, Aztec teammate and senior forward Malcolm Thomas, and Willis.
UNLV is holding its annual FirstLook - the first official practice event of the season - at 7 p.m. this Friday (Oct. 15) at the Thomas & Mack Center. Fans are encouraged to attend the free event, which is presented by RebelSwag. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. and concessions will be available. The first 4,000 fans in the building will receive a limited edition poster of the 2010-11 Runnin' Rebels.
UNLV grew to No. 18 in the nation in home attendance last season, including being No. 1 on the West Coast. The Runnin' Rebels have won 20 or more games in each of the past four seasons, which marks the first time for the program since 1989-93. In fact, UNLV is just one of five teams in the West to have won 100-plus games over the past four seasons. (BYU, UCLA, Gonzaga and Utah State are the others.)
Season tickets are currently available for purchase for the 2010-11 Runnin' Rebel season. Fans will have the opportunity to see some of the best seats remaining in the lower level of the Thomas & Mack Center that are available to purchase in a season ticket package during FirstLook. Seating is available in the lower level in both donor and non-donor areas and starts at $485. Balcony season tickets for 16 home games at the Thomas & Mack Center are available for $175 and $90.
For more information on purchasing season tickets, call 702-739-FANS (3267).
2010-11 MWC MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON MEDIA POLL
Rank School (First-Place Votes) Points
1. San Diego State (21) 261
2. BYU (5) 220
3. New Mexico (3) 214
4. UNLV (1) 203
5. Colorado State 132
6. Utah 105
7. TCU 92
8. Wyoming 88
9. Air Force 35
2010-11 MWC MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Name Class Pos. Institution
Jimmer Fredette Sr. G BYU
Dairese Gary Sr. G New Mexico
Kawhi Leonard So. F San Diego State
Malcolm Thomas Sr. F San Diego State
Tre'Von Willis Sr. G UNLV
Preseason Player of the Year
Jimmer Fredette, Sr., G, BYU
Preseason Newcomer of the Year
Drew Gordon, Jr., F, New Mexico
Preseason Freshman of the Year
Kyle Collinsworth, Fr., G, BYU
