RENO, Nev. -- Louisiana Tech's men's basketball team was ranked No. 3 in the Western Athletic Conference basketball coaches poll as released at the league's media day held Thursday at the Lawlor Events Center.

The Bulldogs were picked fifth in the WAC media poll with 127 points, trailing UTEP (186), Rice (178), Nevada (136) and Hawaii (136).

UTEP garnered 13 first-place votes in the media poll, with Rice picking up five first-place votes and Nevada and Hawaii receiving one each.

Tech was the WAC coaches' third-ranked preseason team with 59 points, trailing only UTEP with 77 points and Rice with 75 points. UTEP and Rice split the first-place votes with five each.

"Obviously we're excited to start practice looking at the opportunities this season for our team," Tech coach Keith Richard said. "We have seven returning lettermen, four returning starters and the returning WAC Freshman of the Year. We're at a point in time where we think we have a chance to be a good team.

"We have to improve this season and especially become better offensively. That's the key from moving from a competitive team like we were last year to becoming a good team with a chance to do something."

The Bulldogs went 15-15 last season and 8-10 in the WAC before losing to eventual conference champion UTEP in quarterfinal play of the WAC tournament.

Louisiana Tech sophomore forward Paul Millsap was also a first-team selection on both the Coaches and Media Preseason All-WAC basketball team after earning conference Freshman of the Year accolades last season. Millsap led the nation with 12.5 rebounds per game and added 15.6 points per contest.

Joining Millsap on the Coaches Preseason All-WAC team were Player of the Year pick Michael Harris of Rice, Filberto Rivera of UTEP, Bryan Hopkins of SMU and Julian Sensley of Hawaii.

Millsap was one of two sophomores picked to the preseason All-WAC team along with second-team pick Nick Fazekas of Nevada.

"Paul Millsap surprised us last season and has already surprised us this season with the work he's done in the weight room during the offseason," Richard said. "He looks very good and we're hoping that will help him step up his game even more this season."

Preseason second-team All-WAC selections were Rice's Jason McKrieth, Boise State's Jermaine Blackburn, Tulsa's Jarius Glenn, UTEP's Omar Thomas and Nevada's Nick Fazekas.

Picked to the Media's Preseason All-WAC team were Harris, the Player of the Year selection, Millsap, Fazekas, Rivera and Hopkins.

Louisiana Tech will begin practice on Saturday in preparation for the 2004-05 season opener against Louisiana-Lafayette at the Louisiana Classic Tournament in Baton Rouge on Nov. 19.


2004-05 Preseason WAC Men's Basketball Coaches Poll

Rank Team (1st Place Votes) Points
1. UTEP (5) 77
2. Rice (5) 75
3. Louisiana Tech 59
4. Nevada 53
5. Hawaii 51
6. SMU 45
7. Boise State 3
8. Tulsa 27
9. Fresno State 21
10. San Jose State 10


Preseason Coaches All-WAC Men's Basketball Teams

Preseason Coaches WAC Player of the Year: Michael Harris, Rice

Coaches First Team
Filberto Rivera, Sr., G, UTEP
Bryan Hopkins, Jr., G, SMU
Michael Harris, Sr., F, Rice
Julian Sensley, Jr., F, Hawaii
Paul Millsap, So., F, Louisiana Tech

Coaches Second Team
Jason McKrieth, Sr., G, Rice
Jermaine Blackburn, Sr., G/F, Boise State
Jarius Glenn, Sr., F, Tulsa
Omar Thomas, Sr., F, UTEP
Nick Fazekas, So., F, Nevada


2004-05 Preseason Media WAC Men's Basketball Poll

Rank Team (1st Place Votes) Points
1. UTEP (13) 186
2. Rice (5) 178
3. Nevada (1) 136
4. Hawaii (1) 130
5. Louisiana Tech 127
6. Boise State 111
7. SMU 75
8. Fresno State 71
9. Tulsa 65
10. San Jose State 21

Preseason Media WAC Player of the Year: Michael Harris, Rice.

Preseason Media WAC Newcomer of the Year: Matthew Gipson, Jr., F, Hawaii.

Preseason Media All-WAC team
Paul Millsap, So., F, Louisiana Tech
Nick Fazekas, So., F, Nevada
Nichael Harris, Sr., F, Rice
Bryan Hopkins, Jr., G, SMU
Filiberto Rivera, Sr., G, UTEP