MWC Media Pick BYU as Preseason Conference Favorites

Mountain West Conference media members overwhelmingly selected three-time defending conference champion BYU as the preseason favorite to win the 2009-10 MWC regular season championship at the conference's annual media day in Denver on Tuesday.

The Cougars took 23 of the 24 first place votes to finish with 215 points in the poll. BYU returns four starters this season after finishing 12-4 in MWC play and 25-8 overall, including a third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.

This is the second year BYU has been tabbed the top conference team in the preseason poll. Two years ago the Cougars were also placed first and would eventually win the MWC title, going 14-2 in conference play.

BYU junior guard Jimmer Fredette was also named Preseason Player of the Year in addition to joining senior forward Jonathan Tavernari in representing BYU on the Preseason All-Conference Team. The Cougars are the only team to have two players on the preseason squad.

Fredette was a first-team all-MWC and MWC All-Tournament Team selection in 2008-09 while also being named to the USBWA All-District team. The junior is the returning leader in scoring (16.2 ppg) and assists (135) for the Cougars, having scored in double digits 29 times in 2008-09, including eight games with 20 or more points.

Tavernari returns for his final season after earning MWC Freshman of the Year honors in 2006-07 and garnering two All-Conference selections. He is the Cougars' top returning rebounder (7.2 rpg) and ranked among league leaders in 3-point field goals (2nd/85), steals (3rd/49), rebounding (4th), scoring (6th/15.7 ppg) and 3-point percentage (8th/.381) last season.

San Diego State collected the remaining first-place vote and 166 points to finish in second in the poll, followed closely by UNLV in third with 161 points. Utah and New Mexico landed in the fourth- and fifth-place spots, respectively, with the Utes tallying 143 points to the Lobos' 141 points. Wyoming received 89 points to finish sixth, followed by TCU (82 points) in seventh, Colorado State (58 points) in eighth and Air Force (25 points) in ninth.

San Diego State junior Billy White, TCU senior Zvonko Buljan and UNLV junior Tre'Von Willis were also selected to the All-Conference Team.

Preseason Media Poll

Rk School (First-Place Votes) Points

1. BYU (23)--215

2. San Diego State (1)--166

3. UNLV--161

4. Utah--143

5. New Mexico--141

6. Wyoming--89

7. TCU--82

8. Colorado State--58

9. Air Force--25

Preseason All-MWC

Jimmer Fredette, Jr., G, BYU

Jonathan Tavernari, Sr., G/F, BYU

Billy White, Jr., F, San Diego State

Zvonko Buljan, Sr., F, TCU

Tre’Von Willis, Jr., G, UNLV

Preseason Player of the Year

Jimmer Fredette, Jr., G, BYU

Preseason Newcomer of the Year

Derrick Jasper, Jr., G, UNLV

Preseason Freshman of the Year

Kawhi Leonard, F, San Diego State

All-Conference Team Bios

Preseason Player of the Year

Jimmer Fredette (6-2, 195, Jr., G, BYU) – A first-team all-MWC and MWC All-Tournament Team selection in 2008-09. Also named to the USBWA All-District team. Is the Cougars’ returning leader in scoring (16.2 ppg) and assists (135). Last season, ranked among Conference leaders in scoring (5th), assists (3rd), free throw percentage (2nd/.847), steals (2nd/50) and assist/turnover ratio (8th/1.59). Scored in double digits 29 times in 2008-09, including eight games with 20 or more points.

Jonathan Tavernari (6-6, 215, Sr., G/F, BYU) – A two-time all-Conference pick after earning MWC Freshman of the Year honors in 2006-07. Returns as Cougars’ top rebounder (7.2 rpg) from a year ago. Last season, ranked among league leaders in 3-point field goals (2nd/85), steals (3rd/49), rebounding (4th), scoring (6th/15.7 ppg) and 3-point percentage (8th/.381). Scored in double figures 26 times, including 10 games with 20+ points. Also collected a team-best seven double-doubles.

Billy White (6-8, 226, Jr., F, San Diego State) – An all-MWC honorable mention last season after earning all-Conference and MWC Freshman of the Year honors in 2007-08. Led the league with a 66.3 field goal shooting percentage in 2008-09 and also tied for sixth with 26 blocks. Returns as the Aztecs’ leader in scoring (8.8 ppg), blocks and steals (31). Scored in double figures 13 times last season.

Zvonko Buljan (6-9, 235, Sr., F, TCU) – Named the 2008-09 MWC Newcomer of the Year. Also received all-MWC honorable mention. Ranked second in the league in rebounding (7.8 rpg) last season. Also ranked among Conference leaders in field goal percentage (t7th/.500) and scoring (15th/12.3 ppg) in 2008-09. Led the team with 21 double-digit scoring games and nine double-doubles.

Tre’Von Willis (6-4, 195, Jr., G, UNLV) – Ranked among MWC leaders in assists (10th/105), steals (10th/35) and scoring (19th/11.4 ppg) in 2008-09. Is the Aztecs’ top returning scorer and rebounder (4.3 rpg) from a year ago. Scored in double digits in 19 games in 2008-09.

Preseason Newcomer of the Year

Derrick Jasper (6-6, 215, Jr., G, UNLV) – Sat out the 2008-09 season after transferring to UNLV from the University of Kentucky. As a true freshman in 2006-07, he played in 34 games for the Wildcats, starting the final 27. He was second on the team and third among SEC freshmen with 2.9 assists per game while shooting 61 percent from the field.

Preseason Freshman of the Year

Kawhi Leonard (6-5, 200, G, San Diego State) – Leonard, a product of King High School in Riverside, Calif., averaged 22.6 points, 13.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 3.0 blocks in 2008-09. The Los Angeles Times Player of the Year had at least 20 points and 20 rebounds six times as a senior for a team that went 30-3, won the CIF-Southern Section Division I-AA title and finished in second place in the Southern California Regional.