University of Nevada Athletics

DENVER, Colo. - The University of Nevada men's basketball team has been picked to finish second in the Western Athletic Conference by both the league's coaches and media, while sophomore forward Luke Babbitt has been named the preseason WAC Player of the Year by both groups. The WAC announced its men's basketball preseason polls and All-WAC teams on Tuesday morning prior to its preseason media teleconference.

Babbitt and junior guard Armon Johnson were also named first-team All-WAC by both the media and the coaches in the preseason polls.

Utah State, the 2008-09 WAC regular season and tournament champion, received eight first place votes and 64 points. Nevada captured second place with 53 points, receiving one first-place vote. New Mexico State took third place with 50 points. With 42 points, Idaho was voted fourth. Louisiana Tech (31) and Fresno State (30) followed closely behind in fifth and sixth place, respectively. Boise State (23) and San Jose State (19) finished seventh and eighth, respectively, while Hawai'i (12) was ranked ninth.

The coaches also voted on preseason first and second all-WAC teams. Nevada sophomore forward Luke Babbitt, the 2008-09 WAC Freshman of the Year, leads the list of first-teamers. Idaho senior guard Mac Hopson and Nevada junior guard Armon Johnson also earned spots on the preseason first team. Utah State senior guard Jared Quayle and New Mexico State junior guard Jahmar Young round out the first team.
 
Second-team selections include Roderick Flemings (Hawai'i), Paul George (Fresno State), Kyle Gibson (Louisiana Tech), Sylvester Seay (Fresno State) and Tai Wesley (Utah State).

In the media poll, Utah State received 273 points and 15 first-place votes. Nevada was picked second with 269 points and 12 first-place votes. New Mexico State garnered 226 points and six first place votes for third place followed by Idaho with 193 points. Boise State was fifth with 145 points followed by Louisiana Tech 140 points. Fresno State was seventh with 130 points, followed by San Jose State (88) and Hawai'i (66). 

Nevada sophomore forward Luke Babbitt has been named the preseason Player of the Year by the media, and Idaho senior transfer Steffan Johnson was tabbed their preseason Newcomer of the Year. Babbitt averaged 16.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game last season, helping Nevada to last year's WAC Tournament championship game. Johnson, a transfer from Pacific, was a two-time all-Big West Conference honoree. Johnson led Pacific his junior season with 14.5 points, 4.9 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.

The media's All-WAC team included Babbitt, Idaho senior guard Mac Hopson, New Mexico State junior guard Jahmar Young, Nevada junior guard Armon Johnson and Utah State senior guard Utah State.