University of Nevada Athletics

DENVER, Colo.   The University of Nevada men’s basketball team has been picked to win the Western Athletic Conference by both the league’s coaches and media, while sophomore guard Armon Johnson, freshman forward Luke Babbitt and junior guard Brandon Fields garnered individual recognition. The WAC announced its men's basketball preseason poll and all-WAC teams Tuesday morning prior to its preseason media teleconference.

Nevada, the 2007-08 WAC regular season co-champion, received seven first-place votes and 63 points from the coaches. Utah State captured second place with 57 points, receiving two first-place votes. New Mexico State took third place with 48 points. With 43 points, San Jose State was voted fourth. Boise State (30) and Louisiana Tech (29) followed closely behind in fifth and sixth place, respectively. Hawai'i (25) and Fresno State (20) finished seventh and eighth, respectively, while Idaho (9) was ranked ninth.

The coaches also voted on preseason first and second all-WAC teams. Armon Johnson, the 2007-08 WAC Freshman of the Year, leads the list of first-teamers. San Jose State junior center C.J. Webster and Utah State senior forward Gary Wilkinson, 2007-08 all-Newcomer team honorees, also earned spots on the preseason first team. New Mexico State guard Jonathan Gibson and Louisiana Tech guard Kyle Gibson round out the first team.
 
Second-team selections include Luke Babbitt (Nevada), Brandon Fields (Nevada), Anthony Thomas (Boise State), Tai Wesley (Utah State) and Jahmar Young (New Mexico State)

In the media poll, Nevada received 255 points and 20 first-place votes. Utah State was picked second with 220 points and four first-place votes. New Mexico State garnered 201 points and two first-place votes for third place followed by Louisiana Tech with 149 points. Boise State was fifth with three first-place votes and 142 points followed by San Jose State with a first-place vote and 132 points. Fresno State was seventh with 114 points, followed by Hawai'i (103) and Idaho (34).
 
Utah State senior forward Gary Wilkinson has been named the preseason Player of the Year, while Nevada freshman Luke Babbitt was tabbed this year's preseason Newcomer of the Year by the media. Wilkinson averaged 13.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game last season, helping Utah State to a share of the conference regular season crown last year. Babbitt, a 2008 graduate of Galena High School in Reno, became the third player in Nevada prep history to be named a McDonald's All-American.

The All-WAC team included Wilkinson, New Mexico State junior guard Jonathan Gibson, Louisiana Tech junior guard Kyle Gibson, Nevada sophomore guard Armon Johnson, and San Jose State junior center C.J. Webster.

Nevada shared the 2007-08 regular-season title with Boise State, Utah State, and New Mexico State, its fifth consecutive WAC regular-season championship. The team advanced to the inaugural College Basketball Invitational Tournament last season.

2008-09 Preseason Men's Basketball Coaches Poll
Rank Teams (1st Place Votes) Points
1.  Nevada (7) 63
2.  Utah State (2) 57
3.  New Mexico State 48
4.  San Jose State 43
5.  Boise State 30
6.  Louisiana Tech 29
7.  Hawai'i 25
8. Fresno State 20
9.  Idaho 9

Player of the Year: Armon Johnson, Nevada

2008-09 Preseason Men's Basketball Media Poll
Rank Teams (1st Place Votes) Points
1. Nevada (20) 255
2. Utah State (4) 220
3. New Mexico State (2) 201
4. Louisiana Tech 149
5. Boise State (3) 142
6. San Jose State (1) 132
7. Fresno State 114
8. Hawai'i 103
9. Idaho 34

Preseason All-WAC Team (Media)
Jonathan Gibson, Jr., G, New Mexico State
Kyle Gibson, Jr., G, Louisiana Tech
Armon Johnson, So., F, Nevada
C.J. Webster, Jr., C, San Jose State
Gary Wilkinson, Sr., F, Utah State

Preseason Player of the Year: Gary Wilkinson, Sr., F, Utah State
Newcomer of the Year: Luke Babbitt, Fr., F, Nevada