A look at the MWC in the roundball

[Mars]

PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH:
1. BYU; 2. UNLV; 3. San Diego State; 4. New Mexico; 5. Utah; 6. Wyoming; 7. TCU; 8. Colorado State; 9. Air Force

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnf ... id=4264406

TEAM BY TEAM ANALYSIS:...

BYU - First things first with the Cougars, after posting a 25-8 record a season ago and tying for first place in the Mountain West with a 12-4 mark, it only makes sense for this group to be picked as the favorite, given that they have four starters returning to the lineup for the 2009-10 campaign. Granted, BYU did lose the services of Lee Cummard who was an all-conference performer and one of the most well-rounded players in the league last season, but that still leaves the cupboard with plenty of options, specifically Jimmer Fredette and Jonathan Tavernari. In Fredette the Cougars have a junior who plays much like Cummard did, putting up points (16.2 ppg), hitting the boards (3.0 rpg) and distributing the ball (4.1 apg) to competent teammates. Not only a member of the MWC's Preseason All-Conference Team, Fredette also figures to be one of the favorites to be named the MWC Player of the Year if all goes well for him and his Provo-based associates. Tavernari (15.7 ppg), the top returning rebounder for the group with his 7.2 boards per contest, is someone who is a tough matchup for most opponents because he is also the most successful three- point shooter (85-of-223) for the group, which means his inside-outside play is incredibly tough to combat. Growing strong, all-around performers in the state of Utah seems to be a running theme, at least it is in Provo because Jackson Emery and Chris Miles are two more returning starters who are also well adept at handling almost all aspects of the game. Emery, now a junior, will have plenty of opportunity to elevate his 7.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg and 3.0 apg from a year ago as he handles even more of the responsibilities for head coach Dave Rose. Miles (7.1 ppg) checks in as the interior force with his 6-11 frame, but it would still be nice to see him improve upon his mere 52.2 percent accuracy at the free-throw line, a place that he should be visiting quite a bit more this season once he begins throwing his weight around.

UNLV:...

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