Utah favored to win WAC
Lobos rank 2nd entering final year for 16-team league
Posted: Monday October 19, 1998 06:11 PM
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Majerus took the Utes to the NCAA title game last season Todd Warshaw/Allsport |
LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Utah, which last year advanced to the NCAA title game, is the overwhelming favorite to win the Western Athletic Conference men's basketball championship this year, according to a preseason media poll released Wednesday.
The Utes, who return three starters from last year's team that lost to Kentucky in the national championship game, received 18 of 28 votes, finishing well ahead of New Mexico (six) and Texas Christian (two).
Utah also was picked to win the WAC's eight-team Pacific Division, with TCU tabbed as the favorite in the Mountain Division.
The Utes received 23 first-place votes and 228 points in division voting, placing ahead of New Mexico, which got five first-place votes and 208 points.
Following New Mexico were Fresno State, Hawaii, Brigham Young, Texas-El Paso, San Diego State and San Jose State.
In the Mountain Division, TCU earned 14 first-place votes and 211 points, edging reigning WAC champ UNLV, which picked up 13 first-place votes and 209 points. Following UNLV were Tulsa, Southern Methodist, Wyoming, Colorado State, Rice and Air Force.
This will be the final season for the WAC in its current 16-team format. In late May, Air Force, BYU, Colorado State, New Mexico, San Diego State, UNLV, Utah and Wyoming announced they were leaving the WAC to form their own league on July 1, 1999.
In the women's poll, done by coaches, Colorado State was picked to win the league championship, getting 13 of 16 votes. Colorado State was favored in the Mountain Division while Hawaii was picked in the Pacific Division.
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