The media and the coaches predict the WAC

It's finally here -- the collective takes by the media and the league coaches on how the WAC will play out in the WAC in 2008-2009 and who will be the best and also the better players.

First the pixel-stained wretches of the media (hey, WAC administration: please add who these voters were):

Men’s media poll
(1st Place Votes), Points

1. Nevada (20), 255
2. Utah State (4), 220
3. New Mexico State (2), 201
4. Louisiana Tech, 149
5. Boise State (3), 142
6. San Jose State (1), 132
7. Fresno State, 114
8. Hawaii, 103
9. Idaho, 34

(We don't wish to be mean spirited but drug testing should be mandatory for the three reporters who gave Boise State first place votes. We also believe NMSU is too high and SJSU too low)

Preseason Player of the Year

Gary Wilkinson, Sr., F, Utah State

Newcomer of the Year

Luke Babbitt, Fr., F, Nevada

Preseason All-WAC Team

Jonathan Gibson, Jr., G, New Mexico State
Kyle Gibson, Jr., G, Louisiana Tech
Armon Johnson, So., G, Nevada
C.J. Webster, Jr., C, San Jose State
Gary Wilkinson, Sr., F, Utah State

(We like Armon Johnson's game but feel Brandon Fields brings a better all-around set of skills to the proverbial table. It's hard to quibble with Kyle Gibson's selection as he was our sixth man for our five-person All-WAC contingent. Webster and Wilkinson are the two best 'bigs' in the league)

Now for the thinking of the coaches.

Men’s coaches poll
(1st Place Votes), Points

1. Nevada (7), 63
2. Utah State (2), 57
3. New Mexico State, 48
4. San Jose State, 43
5. Boise State, 30
6. Louisiana Tech, 29
7. Hawaii, 25
8. Fresno State, 20
9. Idaho, 9

(It's interesting that the coaches have Boise ahead of LA TECH -- could we be missing that the loss of two point guards is an insurmountable hit for the Bulldogs?)

Player of the Year

Armon Johnson, Nevada

Preseason All-WAC Teams
First Team

Jonathan Gibson, Jr., G, New Mexico St.
Kyle Gibson, Jr., G, Louisiana Tech
Armon Johnson, So., G, Nevada
C.J. Webster, Jr., C, San Jose State
Gary Wilkinson, Sr., F, Utah State

(The coaches and the media are in agreement regarding the top five -- that in itself might be worthy of a congressional investigation. Where Bob Knight when we need him to be the contrarian? It certainly also appears that we are not giving Armon Johnson all the love many others feel he deserves)

Second Team

Luke Babbitt, Fr., F, Nevada
Brandon Fields, Jr., G, Nevada
Anthony Thomas, Jr., F, Boise State
Tai Wesley, So., F, Utah State
Jahmar Young, So., G, New Mexico St.

(Thomas and Wesley are inclusions we didn't have. LA TECH's Magnum Rolle and San Jose State's Adrian Oliver are not to be found on either team nor do Hawaii's Roderick Flemings and Fresno State's Sylvester Seay appear. Hmmm...)