The Mountain West on Thursday announced its preseason men’s basketball all-conference teams and the league’s predicted order of finish.
Colorado State fifth-year guard Nique Clifford was one of 10 players voted to the all-conference team. Clifford, who starred at The Vanguard School in Colorado Springs and CU, averaged 12.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists for the Rams in 36 starts last season.
CSU was voted to finish seventh out of the conference’s 11 teams this season, which would land them in the same spot they had last season. Air Force, which did not have any all-Mountain West preseason players, is expected to finish last in the league. Wyoming, also with no all-conference selections, is predicted to finish ninth.
Boise State, which received 19 of the 26 first-place votes, was voted to finish at the top of the conference, followed by New Mexico, Nevada and San Diego State.
Boise State senior forward Tyson Degenhart was voted the preseason player of the year. San Diego State forward Pharoah Compton earned the preseason freshman of the year award. Nevada fifth-year guard Kobe Sanders was named the preseason newcomer of the year The 6-6 transfer averaged 19.6 points for Cal Poly last season.
All-Mountain West preseason team
- Albaro Cardenas, G, Boise State
- Tyson Degenhart, F, Boise State
- O’Mar Stanley, F, Boise State
- Nique Clifford, G, Colorado State
- Nick Davidson, F, Nevada
- Donovan Dent, G, New Mexico
- Nelly Junior Joseph, C, New Mexico
- Reese Waters, G, San Diego State
- Dedan Thomas Jr., G, UNLV
- Ian Martinez, G, Utah State
All-Mountain West predicted order of finish
- Boise State (19) — 276
- New Mexico (1) — 233
- Nevada (1) — 219
- San Diego State (2) — 213
- UNLV (2) — 178
- Utah State (1) — 169
- Colorado State — 160
- San José State — 88
- Wyoming — 67
- Fresno State — 62
- Air Force — 51
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