Idaho men picked 8th in WAC
DENVER - The Idaho men's basketball team was picked to finish eighth in the Western Athletic Conference in the preseason media and coaches polls.
Junior forward Luiz Toledo is the only returning starter and senior forward Brandon Wiley returns after missing last season with a back injury. The team returns three more players who saw significant minutes last year, as well as two redshirts, three junior college transfers and two true freshman.
Utah State was picked first in both polls.
Idaho will play its first exhibition game on Saturday, Oct. 30 against Northwest Christian at 7:05 p.m. at Memorial Gym.
Preseason coaches poll (first-place votes in parentheses) - 1, Utah State (8) 64 points. 2, New Mexico State (1) 55. 3, Nevada 47. 4, (tie), Boise State 36. 4, (tie), Fresno State 36. 6, San Jose State 32. 7, Louisiana Tech 24. 8, Idaho 19. 9, Hawaii 11.
Preseason Player of the Year - Tai Wesley, Utah State.
First team - Troy Gillenwater, New Mexico State; Wendell McKines, New Mexico State; Adrian Oliver, San Jose State; Greg Smith, Fresno State; Tai Wesley, Utah State.
Second team - Olu Ashaolu, Louisiana Tech; Nate Bendall, Utah State; Daequon Montreal, Boise State; Tyler Newbold, Utah State; Pooh Williams, Utah State.
Preseason media poll - 1, Utah State (19) 259. 2, New Mexico State (8) 237. 3, Nevada (2) 190. 4, San Jose State (1) 135. 5, Fresno State 133. 6, Boise State 129. 7, Louisiana Tech 116. 8, Idaho 78. 9, Hawaii 73.
Preseaon Player of the Year - Adrian Oliver, San Jose State.
Newcomer of the Year - Brockeith Pane, Utah State.
All-WAC team - Troy Gillenwater, New Mexico State; Wendell McKines, New Mexico State; Adrian Oliver, San Jose State; Greg Smith, Fresno State; Tai Wesley, Utah State.
Idaho was picked to finish fourth by the WAC coaches and fifth by the media.
Rachele Kloke of Idaho was selected to the first-team all-conference by the media, and was selected to the second team in the coaches poll along with teammate Yinka Olorunnife.
Preseason media poll (first-place votes in parentheses) - 1, Fresno State (14) 158 points. 2, Louisiana Tech (4) 146. 3, Nevada 117. 4, Boise State 92. 5, Idaho 91. 6, New Mexico State 87. 7, Utah State 54. 8, Hawaii 46. 9, San Jose State 19.
Preseason Player of the Year - Jaleesa Ross, Fresno State.
First team - Adrienne Johnson, Louisiana Tech; Rachele Kloke, Idaho; Hayley Munro, Fresno State; Tahnee Robinson, Nevada; Jaleesa Ross, Fresno State.
Second team - Janie Bos, Boise State; Shavon Moore, Nevada; Yinka Olorunnife, Idaho; Madison Spence, New Mexico State; Amber White, Utah State.
Preseason coaches poll - 1, Fresno State (7) 63. 2, Louisiana Tech (2) 57. 3, Nevada 50. 4, Idaho 41. 5, Boise State 30. 6, New Mexico State 24. 7, Hawaii 23. 8, Utah State 19. 9, San Jose State 10.
Preseason Player of the Year - Jaleesa Ross, Fresno State.
First team - Adrienne Johnson, Louisiana Tech; Shavon Moore, Nevada; Hayley Munro, Fresno State; Tahnee Robinson, Nevada; Jaleesa Ross, Fresno State.
Second team - Whitney Jones, Louisiana Tech; Rachele Kloke, Idaho; Jasmine Lowe, New Mexico State; Yinka Olorunnife, Idaho; Madison Spence, New Mexico State.