The Mountain West Conference men's basketball media days tipped off in Denver, CO on Wednesday. Click on the video link above to hear what Boise State head coach Leon Rice thinks about the Broncos being picked to finish in last place by the media.
Also, for more on the preseason rankings, read the article below.
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DENVER, Colo. – Embarking on its first season in the Mountain West, the Boise State men’s basketball team was predicted to finish eighth by a preseason poll of media members that cover the league, the conference announced Wednesday at its annual media day.
The Broncos received 63 points - one fewer than TCU, which was picked to finish seventh. New Mexico was selected by the media as the league’s preseason favorite, garnering 203 points, including 22-of-26 first-place votes. The other four first-place votes went to UNLV, which was picked to finish second.
“I’m not surprised by where we were selected,” head coach Leon Rice said. “With only five guys returning from last year’s team we have a lot of newcomers, and we’re heading into a great league.”
In Rice’s first season, Boise State was picked to finish sixth in the preseason Western Athletic Conference Media Poll. The Broncos went on to finish second, and made both the WAC Tournament Championship Game and reached the semifinals of the College Basketball Invitational.
After going 22-13 in 2010-11, Rice became the winningest first-year head coach in school history (.629).
The complete poll is below:
SCHOOL (FIRST PLACE VOTES) POINTS
1. New Mexico (22) 203
2. UNLV (4) 183
3. San Diego State 158
4. Colorado State 119
5. Air Force 78
6. Wyoming 68
7. TCU 64
8. Boise State 63
The Broncos are slated to open their 2011-12 campaign with an exhibition match-up against Colorado Springs, Nov. 8 (Tuesday). Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Taco Bell Arena.
