BY BSU MEDIA SERVICES

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Boise State men’s basketball team is predicted to finish fourth in the Mountain West, based on a preseason poll of league media members that was released Tuesday.

Defending regular season champion Nevada was picked to repeat with 207 points and 18 first-place votes. Defending MW Tournament champion San Diego State was chosen to finish second (188 points and one first-place vote). New Mexico (153 points) was selected third, followed by Boise State (139), Fresno State (138) and UNLV (122).

No Boise State players made the preseason all-conference squad.

Now in his ninth season, Boise State coach Leon Rice brings back nine returners (two starters) from a 2017-18 team that finished 23-9 and took second place in the Mountain West with a 13-5 league record. Rice and the Broncos have been picked fifth or better in the preseason poll in each of the last six seasons. Boise State is the only team in the conference to have finished in the top three in each of the last four seasons.

Boise State makes its first pubic appearance Friday for its sixth annual Open Scrimmage in Bronco Gym. The scrimmage starts at 5 p.m. prior to the football game against Colorado State, which starts at 7 p.m. The scrimmage is free for fans. The format will feature a handful of periods – varying in length – with players rotating between teams throughout the scrimmage, which is scheduled to last approximately an hour.

Boise State plays its lone exhibition game Nov. 5 against Vanguard, and opens the regular season against Idaho State on Nov. 10 in Taco Bell Arena.

MOUNTAIN WEST BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL

PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Jordan Caroline, Nevada
Deshon Taylor, Fresno State
Caleb Martin, Nevada
Justin James, Wyoming
Cody Martin, Nevada

PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Caleb Martin, Nevada

PRESEASON FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Jordan Brown, Nevada

PRESEASON NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Vance Jackson, New Mexico