Nevada Las Vegas Runaway Choice In PCAA Preseason Basketball Poll

Nevada Las Vegas was picked to win the Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. men’s basketball race in polls of both the media and conference coaches at the conference’s annual media day Wednesday in San Jose.

The Rebels, the defending conference champions, received 9 of 10 first-place votes in the coaches’ poll and 45 of 48 in the poll of the media.

San Jose State was the choice to be the most improved team in the conference. The Spartans, 10-8 in conference and 16-13 overall last season, received one first-place vote in each poll.

UC Irvine finished third in the coaches’ poll and was picked to finish fourth by the media. Fullerton finished fifth in each poll.

COACHES POLL

1. Nevada Las Vegas (9) 99

2. San Jose State (1) 80

3. UC Irvine 75

4. Fresno State 72

5. Cal State Fullerton 65

6. UC Santa Barbara 51

7. Utah State 41

8. New Mexico State 25

9. Pacific 22

10. Long Beach State 20

MEDIA POLL

1. Nevada Las Vegas (45) 485

2. Fresno State (2) 395

3. San Jose State (1) 394

4. UC Irvine 328

5. Cal State Fullerton 292

6. UC Santa Barbara 240

7. Utah State 220

8. Pacific 131

9. New Mexico State 114

10. Long Beach State 84

Note: First-place votes in parentheses.