LAS VEGAS – The University of Wyoming men's basketball team has been picked to finish 10th in the Mountain West, as the conference announced its 2019-20 preseason media poll and all-conference team today at the league's media summit at the Green Valley Ranch in Las Vegas. The Cowboys garnered 36 points from media in the MW.

Wyoming returns 57 percent of its scoring from a season ago. The Pokes also return 56 percent of its rebounding from last season. In fact, Wyoming returns three of its top four scorers from last season.
 
The eight returning players for the Pokes bring plenty of experience, as six of the eight returners played 20 or more minutes per game and no other returning averaged less than four minutes per night. That group also combined for 163 triples for the season, which was two-thirds of the Pokes' three pointers last season.




The 2019 Mountain West tournament champion Utah State Aggies have been predicted to claim the 2019-20 MW regular season title as voted by the Conference media, which was announced Tuesday morning at the start of the 2019 Mountain West Men’s Basketball Media Day.

Utah State, which made an appearance in the NCAA tournament last season, received all 17 first-place votes, earning 187 points. This marks the first time in MW history that the Aggies were selected as preseason favorite. USU returns 2018-19 Mountain West Player of the Year Sam Merrill and 2018-19 MW Freshman and Defensive Player of the Year Neemias Queta.

San Diego State, the 2018-19 MW tournament runner-up, was picked to finish second in the MW preseason predicted order of finish with 150 points. The Aztecs were 21-13 last season with an 11-7 mark in Conference play. 

Following the Aztecs, New Mexico was selected to finish third with 141 points, Nevada fourth with 135 points, Boise State in fifth with 128 points, Fresno State sixth with 103 points, UNLV in seventh with 89 points, Air Force in eighth with 76 points, Colorado State in ninth with 59 points, Wyoming in 10th with 36 points and San José State in 11th with 17 points.




Utah State’s Sam Merrill was selected Preseason Mountain West Player of the Year, while San Diego State’s Malachi Flynn was named Preseason MW Newcomer of the Year and Nevada’s K.J. Hymes garnered Preseason MW Freshman of the Year accolades.

Joining Merrill on the preseason all-conference team are Air Force’s Lavelle Scottie, Boise State’s Derrick Alston, Colorado State’s Nico Carvacho and Utah State’s Neemias Queta.

MWC predicted order of finish:
1.       Utah State (17)                                 187
2.       San Diego State                150
3.       New Mexico                                      141
4.       Nevada                                                135
5.       Boise State                                         128
6.       Fresno State                                      103
7.       UNLV                                                    89
8.       Air Force                                              76
9.       Colorado State                                  59
10.   Wyoming                                             36
11.   San José State                                   17

2019-20 PRESEASON ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST TEAM

Pos.       Name                                    Yr.                          Team
F              Lavelle Scottie                   Sr.                           Air Force
G             Derrick Alston                    Jr.                           Boise State
F/C         Nico Carvacho                   Sr.                           Colorado State
G             Sam Merrill                         Sr.                           Utah State
C             Neemias Queta                So.                          Utah State

Preseason Player of the Year
Sam Merrill, Sr., G, Utah State

Preseason Newcomer of the Year
Malachi Flynn, Jr., G, San Diego State

Preseason Freshman of the Year
K.J. Hymes, F, Nevada

  • University of Wyoming press release

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