Aztecs Picked Fourth in MWC Poll

LITTLETON, Colo. (Source: SDSU) - San Diego State has been picked to finish in a tie for fourth place in the Mountain West Conference's 2007-08 preseason men's basketball media poll released Wednesday afternoon at the league's media day being held at The Mtn. studios in Littleton, Colo.

The Aztecs, 2007 NIT participants, earned 128 points along with New Mexico (two first-place votes) and also received one first-place vote. Brigham Young was picked to win the league with 181 points and 15 first-place votes, followed by UNLV (146 pts; 2 first-place votes) and Utah (142; 2).

After SDSU and New Mexico in sixth place was Wyoming (120), with TCU (7th, 58), Air Force (8th, 54) and Colorado State (9th, 33) rounding out the poll.

San Diego State junior forward Ryan Amoroso was the lone Aztec to garner individual accolades as he was voted as the league's top newcomer. Amoroso, a transfer from Marquette who sat out last season, becomes the second SDSU player in the last three years to earn that distinction. Recently departed senior Mohamed Abukar earned the same recognition heading into the 2005-06 campaign.

The Aztecs return seven letterwinners and two starters off a 2006-07 team that finished 22-11 and advanced to the second round of the postseason NIT. SDSU gets its season underway with an exhibition contest on Nov. 5 against Point Loma Nazarene inside Cox Arena at 7 p.m. PT.