WAC media honors Ross, Hopkins

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Hopkins Tabbed Preseason Newcomer of the Year
Ross An All-WAC Selection

DENVER (WAC) -- The 2002-03 Western Athletic Conference men's basketball media poll has tabbed SMU freshman guard Bryan Hopkins the preseason Newcomer of the Year and senior guard Quinton Ross to the All-WAC team.

The poll tabbed Tulsa as this year's favorite and Hawaii's Carl English as the preseason Player of the Year. Tulsa received 211 points and 19 of the 24 first-place votes. Hawaii with 189 points, earned four first-place votes and was picked second. Louisiana Tech received the final first-place vote and 161 points to finish third followed by Nevada with 135 points. In fifth was Fresno State with 120 points followed by SMU with 106 points, Rice (67), San Jose State (44), Boise State (39) and UTEP (32).

Tulsa also received 19 votes to be this year's 2003 Williams WAC Tournament champion, while last year's tournament winner, Hawaii, had three votes. Louisiana Tech and Nevada also received one vote. This year's tournament will be played at Tulsa's Reynolds Center, March 11-15.

Hopkins was selected by 12 media members, while English was picked on 14 ballots. The All-WAC team included Ross, English, Tulsa senior forward Kevin Johnson, Tulsa senior guard Dante Swanson and Louisiana Tech senior forward Antonio Meeking.

The following is the complete 2002-03 WAC men's basketball media poll with first-place votes in parentheses (points awarded on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis):

Rk. Team Points
1. Tulsa (19) 211
2. Hawaii (4) 189
3. Louisiana Tech (1) 161
4. Nevada 135
5. Fresno State 120
6. SMU 106
7. Rice 67
8. San Jose State 44
9. Boise State 39
10. UTEP 32

2003 WAC Tournament Champion: Tulsa (19), Hawaii (3), Louisiana Tech (1), Nevada (1)

Preseason All-WAC Team
Carl English, Jr., G/F, Hawaii
Kevin Johnson, Sr., F, Tulsa
Dante Swanson, Sr., G, Tulsa
Quinton Ross, Sr., G/F, SMU
Antonio Meeking, Sr., F, Louisiana Tech

Preseason Player of the Year: Carl English, Jr., G/F, Hawai'i
Preseason Newcomer of the Year: Bryan Hopkins, Fr., G, SMU