LARAMIE, Wyo. (Oct. 20, 2021) – The University of Wyoming men’s basketball team has been picked to finish tied for eighth in the Mountain West, as the conference announced its 2021-22 preseason media poll and all-conference team today prior to the start of MW Virtual Media Day on Wednesday. The Cowboys garnered 79 points from media in the MW. Wyoming will participate in MW Media Day on Thursday.

The Cowboys finished last season with a 14-11 record and pushed top-seeded San Diego State to the wire in the quarterfinals of the MW tournament. The Pokes led the conference in scoring last season at 76.6 points per game.

Wyoming was one of the nation’s top three-point shooting teams averaging 10 per game to lead the MW and rank No. 12 in country. Wyoming finished the season with 252 threes, which ranked No. 22 in the nation. The Cowboys also took care of the basketball ranking second in the MW with only 11.3 turnovers per game.

Colorado State received 11 first-place votes, earned 207 points, and sit atop the preseason poll for the first time in league history.  San Diego State was picked second in the preseason poll with 201 points and seven first-place votes, while Nevada was selected third with 189 points and the remaining two first-place votes.

Boise State was chosen to finish fourth with 147 points, Utah State fifth with 127 points, Fresno State sixth with 119 points and UNLV seventh with 109 points. New Mexico and Wyoming tied for eighth with 79 points each, San José State is 10th with 40 points and Air Force is 11th with 23 points.

Nevada junior Grant Sherfield was selected Mountain West Preseason Player of the Year, while San Diego State senior Matt Bradley was named MW Preseason Newcomer of the Year and UNLV rookie Keshon Gilbert garnered MW Preseason Freshman of the Year honors.

2021-22 PRESEASON ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST TEAM

Pos.        Name                                    Yr.                           Team

G/F         David Roddy                       Jr.                           Colorado State

G             Isaiah Stevens                    Jr.                           Colorado State

F              Orlando Robinson            Jr.                           Fresno State

G             Grant Sherfield                  Jr.                           Nevada

G             Bryce Hamilton                 Sr.                           UNLV

Preseason Player of the Year

Grant Sherfield, Jr., G, Nevada

Preseason Newcomer of the Year

Matt Bradley, Sr., G, San Diego State

Preseason Freshman of the Year

Keshon Gilbert, G, UNLV