Colorado State University Athletics
Rams picked fifth in MW Preseason Media Poll
10/14/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MW Releases: Preseason Poll | Preseason All-Conference
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Colorado State men's basketball team has been predicted to finish fifth in the Mountain West standings, it was revealed Tuesday morning when the league released its annual preseason media poll in conjunction with the start of a two-week digital tipoff event.
The race for the 2014-15 conference championship appears to be wide open. While defending regular-season champion San Diego State is once again predicted to win the league title, garnering 383 points in the poll, including 34 of 35 first-place votes, second place through sixth place are separated by only 19 points in the poll conducted of the league's media.
Boise State (275) captured the only other first-place vote in the poll, followed by New Mexico (270) and UNLV (269). The Rams (258), rival Wyoming (256) and Fresno State (232) are fifth through seventh, respectively, wrapping up a clear group of teams expected to contend with the Aztecs in the league race.
Nevada (126) was picked to finish eighth, followed by Air Force (102), Utah State (98) and San Jose State (41).
Preseason Awards
The conference also released its Preseason All-Mountain West team, and individual award winners. Rams' senior guard Daniel Bejarano was among the five players selected to the preseason all-conference squad, joining Boise State's junior guard/forward Anthony Drmic, Wyoming forward Larry Nance Jr., and San Diego State's junior forward Winston Shepard and senior forward Dwayne Polee II.
Bejarano's preseason recognition marks the fifth time since 2003 that at CSU player was named to the preseason all-conference team, and the first since NBA veteran Jason Smith was tabbed in back-to-back seasons in 2005 and 2006. Standout center Matt Nelson, who led the Rams to the 2003 Mountain West tournament championship, also earned back-to-back preseason all-conference accolades for the Rams in 2003 and 2004.
Nance Jr was tabbed as the preseason player of the year, while SDSU junior forward Angelo Chol, a transfer from Arizona, was picked as the preseason newcomer of the year, and UNLV guard Rashad Vaughn was selected as the preseason freshman of the year.
| Rank | Team (1s-Place Votes) | Points |
| 1 | San Diego State (34) | 383 |
| 2 | Boise State (1) | 275 |
| 3 | New Mexico | 270 |
| 4 | UNLV | 269 |
| 5 | Colorado State | 258 |
| 6 | Wyoming | 256 |
| 7 | Fresno State | 232 |
| 8 | Nevada | 126 |
| 9 | Air Force | 102 |
| 10 | Utah State | 98 |
| 11 | San José State | 41 |
| Preseason All-Mountain West | ||
| Anthony Drmic, Sr., G/F, Boise State | ||
| Daniel Bejarano, Sr., G, Colorado State | ||
| Winston Shepard, Jr., F, San Diego State | ||
| Dwayne Polee II, Sr., F, San Diego State | ||
| Larry Nance Jr., Sr., F, Wyoming | ||
| Preseason Player of the Year | ||
| Larry Nance Jr., Sr., F, Wyoming | ||
| Preseason Newcomer of the Year | ||
| Angelo Chol, Jr., F, San Diego State | ||
| Preseason Freshman of the Year | ||
| Rashad Vaughn, Fr., G, UNLV | ||
