BEST OF THE MEN
Teams
1. New Mexico. The Lobos are the top team in what could be the strongest Western Athletic Conference ever. Along with one of the nation's big men in Kenny Thomas, New Mexico returns three other starters from a team that finished last year rated No. 11 by the Associated Press.
2. Fresno State. The most famous member of this team is head coach Jerry Tarkanian. But the Shark brings with him the most talented team in the WAC. The biggest knock on this team is that it lacks the heart and experience to dominate an entire season.
3. Nevada-Las Vegas. The Runnin' Rebels possess the most dominating defender in the WAC in 6-foot-11 Keon Clark. He was, however, suspended for the first 11 games of the season. Add to that fellow All-WAC player Tyrone Nesby, and UNLV could have the most talented front court in the conference.
WAC Champion: New Mexico
Players
Guards
1. Anthony Carter, Hawaii. The incumbent Pacific Division Player of the Year, Carter led the WAC in both assists and steals last year. He is perhaps the most exciting player in the conference and is the reason why Hawaii has some of its highest expectations in years.
2. Mike Jones, Texas Christian. Jones assaulted the TCU record books last year, having one of the biggest individual seasons in the school's history. He's the best threat on one of the best offensive teams in the WAC and earned a spot on the U.S. under-22 team in last summer's World Games.
3. Chris Herren, Fresno State. This East Coast transplant is dripping with chowda' and attitude. He was huge in his first year at Fresno in 1996-97. Not only was he the team MVP and an All-WAC performer, but he was among the conference leaders in scoring, assists, steals and three-point shooting. Herrin was on fire at the end of last year, scoring 35 against Hawaii and SDSU, and 34 against TCU to end the season. If he carries it over to this season, he could be one of the best players in the conference, or even the country this year.
Forwards
1. Tremaine Fowlkes, Fresno State. If you think you've heard this name before, it's because you have. This transfer from Cal was once the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year. Playing in the WAC's weakest position in terms of talent, he adds both offensive firepower and tournament experience to a team that hasn't made the Big Dance since 1994.
2. Clayton Shields, New Mexico. At only 210 pounds, Shields is too small for power forward, where he played the second half of last season. He has the talent to be a first-team All-WAC performer.
3. Tyrone Nesby, UNLV. In his first year in the WAC after transferring from junior college, Nesby made the All-Pacific team in 1996-97. With the addition of Kevin Simmons, a transfer from UC Irvine, Nesby may be given more freedom in the offense.
Centers
1. Kenny Thomas, New Mexico. Thomas is small for a center at 6 foot-8, and will probably play forward in the pros. But he's a force at 255 pounds. He's been picked by most publications as a preseason All-American. He can shoot the three well for a big guy, too.
2. Keon Clark, UNLV. This man is a shot-blocking machine. He led the conference with 112 last year, 49 more than second place, and is the main reason why Rebels fans have visions of success dancing in their heads once again. Even if he has to serve his suspension, he'll be back in time for conference play.
3. Chris Doleac, Utah. Doleac averaged more than 14 points and nearly eight rebounds per game playing second fiddle to Van Horn. He has perhaps the most difficult job in the conference in having to fill the No. 2 pick in the draft's shoes.
Best Newcomer
Winfred Walton, F/C, Fresno State. Walton is the gem of the WAC recruiting class this year. Walton is a sophomore who transferred from Syracuse after not playing his freshman year. He will be eligible in January and should start immediately. The Sporting News rates him the No. 5 power forward in the country. Then they rate his career stats: Rebounds: 0. Points: 0. Assists: 0. Talk about hype ‹ has this guy been promoted by Don King Productions?
Player of the Year: Kenny Thomas.
Freshman of the Year: Edwin "Greedy" Daniels, G, UNLV.
Best playmaker: Andre Miller, G, Utah.
Best shot-blocker: Keon Clark.
Best shooter: Alika Smith, G, Hawaii.
Best long-range shooter: Bryan Christiansen, F, Colorado State.
Best guy you've never heard of: Jarmica Reese, G/F, Air Force.
Best 1-2 punch: Mike Jones and Malcolm Johnson, TCU.
Most flamboyant player: Chris Herren.
BEST OF THE WOMEN
Teams
1. Utah. According to a poll of WAC coaches, Utah is the team to beat, hands down. The Utes won the Mountain Division last year, and return 10 letter-winners from that squad, which made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
2. Hawaii. The Rainbow Wahine return four starters from the Pacific Division's second-place team in 1996-97. That includes two members of the All-Defensive team, as well as the division's Freshman of the Year.
WAC Champion: Utah
Players
Guards
1. Becky Hammon, Colorado State. Hammon is the returning Pacific Division Player of the Year. As a sophomore last year, she either tied or broke seven WAC records, including the most field goals made in conference play in a season. She led the conference last year with a 22.1 points-per-game average.
2. Julie Krommenhoek, Utah. Along with Hammon, Krommenhoek is an incumbent Player of the Year, having won the award in the Mountain Division. She set several WAC three-point field-goal records last year and needs just 307 points to become the WAC's all-time leading scorer.
Forwards
1. Katie Cronin, Colorado State. She was among the Top 10 in the WAC in several offensive categories last year. She was also on the All-Newcomer team, and at 6 feet, she is a big compliment to Hammon.
2. Olivia DiCamilli, SDSU. DiCamilli is the leader of last year's WAC Champions. She is also a big reason why SDSU led the nation last year in defense. DiCamilli earned a spot on the Pacific Division's second team All-WAC.
Centers
1. Jill Adams, Brigham Young. A member of the Mountain Division's All-Newcomer team, Adams was second in the WAC in blocks as a freshman. She's also the Cougars' top returning rebounder and the best in the WAC's weakest position.
2. Kristi Rose, Utah. Rose finished just behind Adams in blocks last season. Listed at 6-foot-4, she's one of the tallest players in the conference. Her weak point is her free-throw shooting, which was just 26 percent last year.
Player of the Year: Becky Hammon; she's already won. So, hey, why not pick her again?
BEST OF THE REST
Home Court
New Mexico. Officially, it's called University Arena. But it's become known as "The Pit," one of the hardest places in the nation for a visiting team to play. Currently, the men's team has a 26-game home winning streak, third longest in the nation. The women drew the second-largest regular-season crowd in NCAA women's history last year when 17,213 fans saw them play Utah.
Game
Men: New Mexico at UNLV, Feb. 16. This Tuesday night contest could be big. In front of a national television audience, this game will play a major role in the Mountain Division race. With Fresno State having a clear path through the Pacific, the Runnin' Rebels, Lobos and Utes will be in a dogfight. This game will also feature a match-up of superstar big men, with Keon Clark going up against Kenny Thomas.
Women: Colorado State at Utah, Feb. 14. The two favorites to win the WAC will face off just two weeks before the tournament. Even if the Mountain Division race is settled, it will still feature the match-up of the conference's two best players, Hammon and Krommenhoek.
Recruiting Class
Men: Fresno State, hands down. Along with Walton, the Bulldogs landed point guard Rafer Alston, a top junior college player. Fowlkes and 6-foot-11 Avondre Jones add major collegiate experience.
Women: TCU. The Lady Frogs signed one of the nation's top recruiting classes, according to Blue Star Report. High school All-Americans Amy and Jill Sutton from Gunter, Texas, highlight the signees.
Coach
Men: Billy Tubbs, TCU. Jerry Tarkanian of Fresno State is the most well-known coach in the WAC, and Rick Majerus of Utah has had the best teams in the conference in recent years. But nobody's done as good a job as Tubbs in his three years in Fort Worth, Texas. He has turned the program into a winner, and after 22 victories last season, the Horned Frogs could be a power this year.
Women: Elaine Elliott, Utah. Last season, Elliott won the Mountain Division Coach of the Year. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. She has the longest tenure of any WAC coach (14 years), the highest winning percentage of any WAC coach (.689) and has coached her teams to five regular-season crowns, four conference tournament wins and seven NCAA Tournament appearances.
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