Lobo basketball picked 3rd in preseason Mountain West poll; Mashburn, House selected all-conference

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — The UNM Lobos are picked to finish third in the the preseason Mountain West media poll, released Thursday morning at the league's annual media day conference.

Senior Lobo guards Jamal Mashburn Jr., who led the league in scoring last season, and Jaelen House, the first Lobo to ever post back-to-back seasons of 500 points and 125 assists, were each selected to the preseason all-conference team.

Defending conference champion and NCAA Tournament runner-up San Diego State was voted to repeat as league champs, receiving 25 of a possible 31 first place votes, totaling 333 points. (see full poll results below)

The Aztecs were followed by second place Boise State (four first place votes, 299 points), UNM (one first place vote, 278 points) and Nevada (1 first place vote, 240 points) rounding out the top four. The Journal — which did have a vote — was not the first-place vote for the Lobos.

Colorado State senior point guard Isaiah Stevens was voted the preseason Player of the Year, joining Mashburn and House on the preseason all-conference team along with guard Lamont Butler of San Diego State and forward Tyson Degenhart of Boise State.

USC transfer Reese Waters of San Diego State is the Newcomer of the Year and Dedan Thomas Jr., a point guard for UNLV, was voted the Freshman of the Year.

Voting is conducted by media from the markets covering the Mountain West's 11 basketball members and the media members who vote are selected by the league.

Preseason All-Conference Team

G Isaiah Stevens, Sr., Colorado State

G Jaelen House, Sr., New Mexico

G Jamal Mashburn Sr., Sr., New Mexico

G Lamont Butler, Sr., San Diego State

F Tyson Degenhart, Jr., Boise State

Preseason Player of the Year

Isaiah Stevens, Colorado State

Preseason Newcomer of the Year

Reese Waters, San Diego State

Preseason Freshman of the Year

Dedan Thomas Jr., UNLV