Complete Polls and All-WAC Teams

DENVER, Colo. - The Western Athletic Conference announced its men's basketball preseason polls and all-WAC teams Tuesday with the University of Hawai`i Rainbow Warrior men's basketball team picked to finish ninth by both the coaches and media.

 

Utah State was selected to win the WAC in both the media and coaches' polls. Aggie senior forward Tai Wesley was tabbed the league's preseason Player of the Year by the coaches, while San Jose State senior guard Adrian Oliver earned the honor from the media.

 

Utah State, the 2009-10 WAC regular season champion, received eight first place votes and 64 points in the coaches' poll. New Mexico State, the 2010 WAC tournament champion, captured second place with 55 points, receiving one first-place vote. Nevada took third place with 47 points. With 36 points, Boise State and Fresno State tied for the fourth spot. San Jose State (32) and Louisiana Tech (24) followed closely behind in sixth and seventh place, respectively. Idaho (19) and Hawai'i (11) finished eighth and ninth, respectively.

 

In the media poll, Utah State received 259 points and 19 first-place votes. New Mexico State was picked second with 237 points and eight first place votes. Nevada garnered 190 points and two first place votes for third place followed by San Jose State with 135 points and one first place vote. Fresno State was fifth with 133 points followed by Boise State with 129 points. Louisiana Tech was seventh with 116 points, followed by Idaho (78) and Hawai'i (73).

 

It is the second straight year that the Rainbow Warriors were picked ninth in the preseason polls. Hawai'i finished the WAC regular-season in ninth place last year with a 3-13 mark. UH, under the direction of first-year head coach Gib Arnold, returns just four players from last year's squad and welcomes 10 newcomers.

 

The Rainbow Warriors, who officially began fall practice Friday, Oct. 15, play an exhibition games versus Chaminade (Nov. 6), before opening the regular season versus Montana State in the Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic on Nov. 12.