Wyoming junior Justin James was chosen to the Preseason All-MW Team, while the Cowboys were selected seventh in the MW Preseason Poll Wednesday.

The Mountain West Conference released both the predicted order of finish and the preseason all-conference team at its annual MW Basketball Media Summit in Las Vegas. The voting was conducted by select media members.

James averaged 16 points per game and was the MW Sixth Man of the Year, as well as, Third-Team All-MW last season. He was also chosen as the CBI MVP. James scored in double figures in 30 games last season, and that included 20 or more points in 12 of those.

The Pokes received 133 total points in the balloting of media members for that seventh spot.

Defending champion Nevada was picked to win the MW again. The Wolfpack received 19 of the 24 first-place votes and 257 points in the poll. They went 14-4 in the conference last season.

San Diego State was chosen second, followed by Boise State in third. Both the Aztecs and Broncos got a pair of first-place votes. Fresno State was tabbed in fourth ahead of Colorado State and UNLV. The Rebels got a first-place tally, but come in a sixth.

After UW, it’s Utah State, New Mexico, San Jose State and Air Force rounding out the predicted order of finish.

Boise State’s senior guard Chandler Hutchison was selected the Preseason Player of the Year. Nevada junior forward Caleb Martin was chosen as the Preseason Newcomer of the Year, while UNLV forward Brandon McCoy was tabbed as the Preseason Freshman of the Year.

Hutchison and James are joined on the Preseason All-MW team by San Diego State’s Trey Kell, Nevada’s Jordan Caroline and Koby McEwen of Utah State.

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