Basketball poll: Rebels' chances good, not great - Sports

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Oct. 07, 2009
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Basketball poll: Rebels' chances good, not great

UNLV voted third by MWC media

By MATT YOUMANS
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

UNLV Basketball - Men

Predictions in October mean nothing in March, so UNLV basketball coach Lon Kruger expressed no qualms with the poll results unveiled Tuesday.

The Rebels are picked to finish third in the Mountain West Conference in the 2009-10 season, according to a media poll.

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A year ago UNLV was predicted to win the conference, but the optimism of October faded as the Rebels finished fifth. Kruger has a new-look team, and his outlook remains positive.

"Our team is like a lot of others in the league in that we have a lot of new people," Kruger said at the league's preseason media day in Denver. "There are a lot of unknowns. It's kind of intriguing from our perspective."

Junior guard Tre'Von Willis, the Rebels' top returning scorer, was named to the preseason all-conference first team.

Derrick Jasper, a junior guard who transferred to UNLV from Kentucky, was voted Newcomer of the Year.

To no surprise, Brigham Young, the three-time defending MWC champion, was selected as the favorite to win the regular season. The Cougars received 23 of 24 first-place votes and 215 ballot points.

San Diego State received the other first-place vote and had 166 points to place second, followed by UNLV with 161. Utah and New Mexico, who shared the 2008-09 regular-season title with BYU, were picked to finish fourth and fifth, respectively.

The Cougars return four starters, including junior guard Jimmer Fredette, who received preseason MWC Player of the Year honors. He averaged 16.2 points last season when BYU finished 25-8 overall and 12-4 in the conference.

"Jimmer has a real versatility to his game. He has expanded his game this summer, and I do believe he's one of the premier players in the league," Cougars coach Dave Rose said.

"I think we were picked to win the league because we have the most returning players. This is what we expect to happen, that we win the league. I believe this is going to be a really good team."

Fredette and Willis are joined on the first team by two players with Las Vegas connections -- BYU senior Jonathan Tavernari, a former Bishop Gorman High star, and San Diego State junior Billy White, from Green Valley.

The Cougars lost leading scorer Lee Cummard, but Rose had to deal with more serious concerns over the summer. He was diagnosed with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor cancer in June and required emergency surgery.

Rose said his health is not an issue now, and his relationships with the conference's other coaches is stronger.

"I feel a lot of support from all the guys. They gave me support at a time when I really needed it," Rose said. "After the first week or two, all the news has been good. I feel terrific."

BYU and Utah, which won the MWC tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center, lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Utes return three starters but will miss the dominant presence of center Luke Nevill.

"Whether we get picked fourth, fifth or sixth, not to be disrespectful to the media, but it's really where we finish," Utah coach Jim Boylen said. "I think BYU being picked (first) is right. We're all chasing them."

San Diego State suffered severe personnel losses, with Kyle Spain, Lorrenzo Wade, Richie Williams and Ryan Amoroso departing from a team that reached the National Invitation Tournament semifinals. The Aztecs welcome back White and boast forward Kawhi Leonard, the preseason Freshman of the Year.

"I've never been one to poor-mouth the players we've got, and I think we are going to be good," Aztecs coach Steve Fisher said.

The Rebels (21-11) slumped late last season and lost at Kentucky in the NIT's opening round. Senior leaders Wink Adams, Joe Darger and Rene Rougeau graduated, leaving Kruger with some big holes to fill.

UNLV's newcomers include Jasper, UCLA transfer Chace Stanback and freshmen Carlos Lopez (Findlay Prep) and Anthony Marshall (Mojave).

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.

MWC BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL

Results of a media poll forecasting the 2009-10 Mountain West Conference basketball season (first-place votes in parentheses):

Team	Points
1. Brigham Young (23)	215
2. San Diego State (1)	166
3. UNLV	161
4. Utah	143
5. New Mexico	141
6. Wyoming	89
7. Texas Christian	82
8. Colorado State	58
9. Air Force	25

Preseason All-MWC Team

Jimmer Fredette, Jr., G, BYU

Tre’Von Willis, Jr., G, UNLV

Jonathan Tavernari, Sr., G/F, BYU

Billy White, Jr., F, San Diego State

Zvonko Buljan, Sr., F, TCU

Preseason Player of Year

Jimmer Fredette, BYU

Newcomer of the Year

Derrick Jasper, UNLV

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Please enter your name Name: Please enter your email Email: Please enter a comment COMMENTS : (word count limit is 300) You have reached the maximum number of words allowed Current Word Count: Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background. Gavan B. wrote on October 07, 2009 11:10 PM: I think this season will be a great season for the top three teams in the MWC. Miles will never have the impact Cummard had, but with the 4 returners. BYU is the team to chase right now in the MWC. Outside that, they will end up just like their post season record, 1 and done. UNLV picked up some good recruits that have two pairs of players that have played with each other at their respective high schools. UNLV has talent, but needs leadership. Curtis Terry (Yeah I can't believe I am saying this) and it took them to the 2nd round of the NCAA tournament. Last year, no one stepped up and it hurt UNLV. 3rd is fair. San Diego will be the "pest" team this year, I have watched Billy White for two years now, and he is a good solid player. I think the MWC has a great shot to get all three teams in the "dance" if they play really well non-conference. Reality wrote on October 07, 2009 08:25 PM: Matt, you forgot about Justin Hawkins as one of the newcomers. Sancarlos wrote on October 07, 2009 01:33 PM: I'm an Aztec fan, but I think Kruger is a fantastic coach. Some might say UNLV underperformed last year. I say that is debatable. And have you already forgotten the coaching job Kruger did the year before? Listen, I'm not looking forward to my Aztecs having to face a Kruger led UNLV two or three times every year, but I have to admit a good UNLV is good for the conference. Don't be stupid. Keep Kruger. Monster Jam wrote on October 07, 2009 11:24 AM: SS: Although I usually make a point not to respond to your ludicrous posts, I thought I wouls weigh in on your takes: 6th place? Maybe. I won't argue that. But maybe second. Maybe last. Kruger is the wrong guy for the job? 18,000 fans vs. BYU don't think so. The winning percentage doesn't seem to support your conclusions either. Bandwagon? I don't think so. You need to grind your axe elsewhere. Sufferin Succotash wrote on October 07, 2009 08:49 AM: UNLV will finish 6th this season. Kruger is the wrong guy for the job. By the end of the season they rest of you will jump on my bandwagon to get rid of Kruger yet none of you will give me any credit for telling you all along that this Kruger bum is not the right guy for UNLV. Tommy wrote on October 07, 2009 08:00 AM: Jamal, I agree. He is the dirtiest player I have seen in the Mountain West since Rafael Araujo at BYU. That guy is a joke. Players get in his head very easy. Players know him now. He isn't going to be able to pull the same crap. As for UNLV... 3rd is fair. We have basically a new team again. While we do have some good transfers, we have to see how they play with the rest of the team. I like not being picked 1st. As for BYU, for return starts help but they better hope Miles learns not to back down since Cummard is gone. VegasNative wrote on October 07, 2009 07:10 AM: Agree with the poll. BYU has to be the team to beat with four returners. However, Cummard will be a BIG loss for them. That said, this has a chance to be a very fun season for our Runnin' Rebels. There are so many questions, but so many possibilities. Like Kruger said, very "intriguing." Are Jasper and Stanback legit? What can Willis do off of the ball? Really excited to see Bellfield in year two. Between Shaw, Santee and Massamba, we'll get much more out of five this year, but who will be the one to take over? What will this freshman class deliver? Enjoying the freshness of the new season. Can't wait until October 16th at the T&M. RE-BELS! Jamal wrote on October 07, 2009 07:02 AM: Buljan? Really? Give me a break. He's a one hit wonder. A one hit wonder that needs a hard foul to the nose.