Southern Utah men picked to finish 9th, Utah Tech 12th in WAC Preseason Coaches Poll
Southern Utah University was slated to finish 9th in the Western Athletic Conference in its first season in the conference, while Utah Tech was picked 11th by WAC coaches in a poll released on Monday.
The #WACmbb coaches have spoken, @GCU_MBB enters 2022-23 as the conference favorite! @NMStateMBB, @SFA_MBB, @ACU_MBB and @CBUmbb rounded out the coaches' poll top five 🏀 pic.twitter.com/swK2oJhyr0
— The Western Athletic Conference (@WACsports) October 17, 2022
SUU enters the WAC from the Big Sky, where they compiled a 26-8 in-conference record over the past two seasons. Southern Utah was upset by Portland State in the first round of the Big Sky Conference Tournament in March, before winning the games in the inaugural The Basketball Classic, falling to Fresno State 67-48.
Key returnees Tevian Jones and Maizen Fausett were named to the Preseason All-WAC First Team and Preseason All-WAC Second Team, respectively.
A star-studded preseason 2022-23 #WAChoops 1st Team 🏀👀 pic.twitter.com/CosOCh0JnA
— The Western Athletic Conference (@WACsports) October 17, 2022
Jones has led SUU in scoring two seasons in a row, scoring 14.8 points per game last year, a slight drop from his 16.9 tally in 2020-'21.
Fausett was third on the Thunderbirds in points per game (11.9) and led the club in rebounds per game (7.9).
Both were named to the Big Sky All-Conference Third Team in 2021-22.
Utah Tech was 6-12 in the WAC last season, and enters the 2022-23 season eligible for the WAC postseason tournament.
Leading-scorer Hunter Schofield graduated, but a returning core of seniors Cameron Gooden and Dancell Leter, alongside Frank Staine and Isaiah Pope gives the Trailblazers more experience.
Gooden averaged 11.5 points per game, while Leter posted 10.3.
Staine and Pope will look to take the next step forward as juniors for head coach Jon Judkins.
Southern Utah was also selected to finish 9th in the WAC Media Poll. Utah Tech was projected to finish 12th.
Grand Canyon's Jovan Blacksher Jr. was picked as the Preseason Player of the Year in the WAC
Sean Ellertson is a sports reporter for the St. George Spectrum & Daily News. To continue to support his work, please subscribe to The Spectrum. Follow Sean on Twitter @SeanEllertson.
This article originally appeared on St. George Spectrum & Daily News: SUU picked to finish 9th, Utah Tech 11th in WAC preseason poll