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MEDIA DAY PRESEASON POLL:
- Colorado State
- San Diego State
- Nevada
- Boise State
- Utah State
- Fresno State
- UNLV
- New Mexico
- Wyoming (tied 8th)
- San Jose State
- Air Force
COMMENTS FROM DAVID:
-There is a lot of love for Colorado State this year, who finished in a tie for first place (in the loss column) a year ago, and who went on a run in the NIT, and who returns all five starters for this season. They are also a Front Range team, and WE AT HOOPSHD LOVE THE FRONT RANGE!
-After two fantastic seasons San Diego State is in a bit of a reset mode, but if there is one thing I’ve learned it’s to never underestimate this group. Only two starters are back, but Matt Bradley transfers in after being a key player at Cal a year ago, which gives them another key quality player. If some guys from last year can step into big roles, we could once again see them near the top of the standings and safely inside the NCAA Tournament bubble.
-I really like this Nevada team and feel they can also make a run at the NCAA Tournament. While they had an unspectacular year overall last year, they were playing a lot better down the stretch and with all five starters back they should be able to continue that momentum into this year.
-Boise State has a good core group of players back from a team that finished 18-9 a year ago. While they did taper off down the stretch, I still think they’ll be closer to the top of the standings than they are to the bottom. They have balance, depth, and a good coach in Leon Rice.
-Utah State is another program that appears to be in a bit of a reset mode with just two starters back. They’ve won 20+ games for three straight seasons, and you never want to underestimate this group or its coaching staff. They have a lot of size in the frontcourt, and if some guys can step in to bigger roles this year they could end up exceeding expectations.
-Fresno State has all five starters back from a team that finished below .500 a year ago, but that experience should result in seeing some improvement. I don’t expect this team to go dancing but I do think they can finish in the top half of the league.
-UNLV is a program that seems to be a sleeping giant. That’s the good news. The bad news is that it’s a sleeping giant that never seems to wake up. They won just 12 games a year ago and lost a lot of key players from that team so they are rebuilding…again. With a new coach and a new lineup it seems as though there are more questions than answers surrounding them.
-New Mexico has had some ups and downs over the years. Last year was one of the downs. They won just 6 games, and while they shouldn’t be as bad this year I still think they’ll be closer to the bottom than they will be to the top.
-Not a lot of love for Wyoming in the preseason poll, but they do have three starters back, and they were noticeably better down the stretch last year than they were when conference play began, and they add some nice transfers. So, I think the Cowboys can exceed expectations this year. That, and WE AT HOOPSHD LOVE THE FRONT RANGE!!
-San Jose State won just five games a year ago, and through most accounts don’t seem like they’ll be a whole lot better this year. However, they did do one thing this offseason that should improve their fortunes: they hired Tim Miles as head coach!! This is a man who builds up programs: it’s what he does! He did it when North Dakota State was transitioning, he did it at Colorado State when he took them from being outside the top-250 to the NCAA Tournament, he did it at Nebraska, and given time he can do it at San Jose State.
-As for Air Force…well…WE AT HOOPSHD LOVE THE FRONT RANGE!!! But…man, this may be a long year for the Falcons.