Basketball poll: Rebels’ chances good, not great

Predictions in October mean nothing in March, so UNLV basketball coach Lon Kruger expressed no qualms with the poll results unveiled Tuesday.

The Rebels are picked to finish third in the Mountain West Conference in the 2009-10 season, according to a media poll.

A year ago UNLV was predicted to win the conference, but the optimism of October faded as the Rebels finished fifth. Kruger has a new-look team, and his outlook remains positive.

"Our team is like a lot of others in the league in that we have a lot of new people," Kruger said at the league's preseason media day in Denver. "There are a lot of unknowns. It's kind of intriguing from our perspective."

Junior guard Tre'Von Willis, the Rebels' top returning scorer, was named to the preseason all-conference first team.

Derrick Jasper, a junior guard who transferred to UNLV from Kentucky, was voted Newcomer of the Year.

To no surprise, Brigham Young, the three-time defending MWC champion, was selected as the favorite to win the regular season. The Cougars received 23 of 24 first-place votes and 215 ballot points.

San Diego State received the other first-place vote and had 166 points to place second, followed by UNLV with 161. Utah and New Mexico, who shared the 2008-09 regular-season title with BYU, were picked to finish fourth and fifth, respectively.

The Cougars return four starters, including junior guard Jimmer Fredette, who received preseason MWC Player of the Year honors. He averaged 16.2 points last season when BYU finished 25-8 overall and 12-4 in the conference.

"Jimmer has a real versatility to his game. He has expanded his game this summer, and I do believe he's one of the premier players in the league," Cougars coach Dave Rose said.

"I think we were picked to win the league because we have the most returning players. This is what we expect to happen, that we win the league. I believe this is going to be a really good team."

Fredette and Willis are joined on the first team by two players with Las Vegas connections -- BYU senior Jonathan Tavernari, a former Bishop Gorman High star, and San Diego State junior Billy White, from Green Valley.

The Cougars lost leading scorer Lee Cummard, but Rose had to deal with more serious concerns over the summer. He was diagnosed with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor cancer in June and required emergency surgery.

Rose said his health is not an issue now, and his relationships with the conference's other coaches is stronger.

"I feel a lot of support from all the guys. They gave me support at a time when I really needed it," Rose said. "After the first week or two, all the news has been good. I feel terrific."

BYU and Utah, which won the MWC tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center, lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Utes return three starters but will miss the dominant presence of center Luke Nevill.

"Whether we get picked fourth, fifth or sixth, not to be disrespectful to the media, but it's really where we finish," Utah coach Jim Boylen said. "I think BYU being picked (first) is right. We're all chasing them."

San Diego State suffered severe personnel losses, with Kyle Spain, Lorrenzo Wade, Richie Williams and Ryan Amoroso departing from a team that reached the National Invitation Tournament semifinals. The Aztecs welcome back White and boast forward Kawhi Leonard, the preseason Freshman of the Year.

"I've never been one to poor-mouth the players we've got, and I think we are going to be good," Aztecs coach Steve Fisher said.

The Rebels (21-11) slumped late last season and lost at Kentucky in the NIT's opening round. Senior leaders Wink Adams, Joe Darger and Rene Rougeau graduated, leaving Kruger with some big holes to fill.

UNLV's newcomers include Jasper, UCLA transfer Chace Stanback and freshmen Carlos Lopez (Findlay Prep) and Anthony Marshall (Mojave).

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.