March 9, 2009

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -

The Mountain West Conference announced its 2008-09 men's basketball awards today. The league's nine men's head coaches, along with a selected media panel, picked the all-conference teams, as well as the coach, player, newcomer, freshman, sixth man and defensive awards.

New Mexico head coach Steve Alford captured MWC Coach of the Year honors for the first time, while Utah's Luke Nevill was named both the Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. Additionally, TCU's Zvonko Buljan garnered Newcomer of the Year accolades, Wyoming's Afam Muojeke was chosen as the Freshman of the Year and Utah's Shaun Green received the Sixth Man of the Year award.

Eight of the nine Mountain West institutions were represented on the 15-member all-MWC teams. BYU and San Diego State led the league with three all-conference selections apiece. New Mexico, UNLV and Utah also had multiple players chosen with two each, while Colorado State, TCU and Wyoming had one apiece.

Eight players were repeat all-Conference selections this season. Wyoming's Brandon Ewing is the first four-time all-MWC honoree in the league's 10-year history, earning first-team accolades after consecutive second-team kudos in 2006-07 and 2007-08, and a third-team selection in 2005-06. BYU's Lee Cummard is a first-team honoree for the second straight year after receiving third-team honors in 2006-07, while Nevill moves up to the first team following a second-team appearance last year and a third-team selection in 2006-07. UNLV's Wink Adams is a second-team member this year after earning first-team honors last season and second-team kudos in 2006-07. San Diego State's Lorrenzo Wade received second-team accolades this season following a first-team selection a year ago, while TCU's Kevin Langford moved up to the second team from a third-team nod in 2007-08. Colorado State's Marcus Walker is a third-team choice after garnering second-team honors last season, while BYU's Jonathan Tavernari is a third-team pick for the second straight year.

Alford collected his first MWC coaching honor after guiding the Lobos to a share of the regular-season crown and second straight 20-win campaign.

Nevill, a 7-2, 265-pound senior center, is the first individual to receive both the MWC Player and Defensive Player of the Year awards in the same season. The Perth, Australia, product averaged 16.7 points per game in Conference play and was the league's top rebounder and shot blocker in league action, averaging 9.6 boards and 3.1 blocks per game while leading the Utes to a share of their fifth MWC regular-season crown. His 50 blocks in MWC games ranks as the third-most in a single season.

Buljan, a 6-9, 220-pound junior center from Split, Croatia, averaged 12.6 points per game in Conference play and was the league's second-leading rebounder with an 8.9 average on the glass. He scored in double figures in 12 of 16 MWC outings, adding eight double-digit rebounding efforts to finish with an MWC-best seven double-doubles against league opponents.

Muojeke, a 6-7, 201-pound forward from Jamaica Queens, N.Y., was the league's top freshman scorer and rebounder, averaging 12.4 points and 6.3 boards in Conference play. He was the only freshman ranked among the league's scoring leaders and one of only two in the rebounding category.

Green, a 6-8, 220-pound senior forward, averaged 10.6 points and 5.3 rebounds off the bench for the Utes in Conference play. In addition to ranking sixth and seventh, respectively, in 3-point field goal shooting (.416) and average (2.3 pg), the Salt Lake City native was also among the MWC's top shot-blockers, ranking sixth with a 1.0 average against league opponents.

2008-09 All-Mountain West Conference Men's Basketball Team (Selected by media and head coaches)
First-Team All-Mountain West
Luke Nevill, Utah**	Sr.	C	7-2	265	Perth, Australia (Kell HS-Ga.)
Lee Cummard, BYU**	Sr.	G	6-7	190	Mesa, Ariz. (Mesa HS)
Jimmer Fredette, BYU	So.	G	6-2	195	Glen Falls, N.Y. (Glen Falls HS)
Tony Danridge, New Mexico	Sr.	G/F	6-5	215	San Bernardino, Calif. (Cojon HS)
Brandon Ewing, Wyoming***	Sr.	G	6-2	190	Chicago, Ill. (Julian HS)
Second-Team All-Mountain West
Daniel Faris, New Mexico	Sr.	C	6-9	235	Albuquerque, N.M. (Eldorado HS)
Kyle Spain, San Diego State	Sr.	F	6-5	220	Newark, Calif. (Newark Memorial HS)
Lorrenzo Wade, San Diego State*	Sr.	F	6-6	225	Las Vegas, Nev. (Univ. of Louisville)
Kevin Langford, TCU*	Sr.	F	6-8	245	Fort Worth, Texas (Univ. of California)
Wink Adams, UNLV**	Sr.	G	6-0	200	Houston, Texas (Gulf Shores Academy)
Third-Team All-Mountain West
Jonathan Tavernari, BYU*	Jr.	G/F	6-6	215	Sao Bernardo, Brazil (Bishop Gorman HS)
Marcus Walker, Colorado State*	Sr.	G	6-0	175	Kansas City, Mo. (Indian Hills CC)
Richie Williams, San Diego State	Sr.	G	5-10	162	San Diego, Calif. (Steele Canyon HS)
René Rougeau, UNLV	Sr.	G	6-6	210	Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (Etiwanda HS)
Lawrence Borha, Utah	Sr.	G	6-3	205	Staten Island, N.Y. (Stonebridge Prep)
All-Defensive Team
Luke Nevill, Utah	Sr.	C	7-2	265	Perth, Australia (Kell HS-Ga.)
Jackson Emery, BYU	So.	G	6-3	185	Alpine, Utah (Lone Peak HS)
Richie Williams, San Diego State	Sr.	G	5-10	162	San Diego, Calif. (Steele Canyon HS)
René Rougeau, UNLV	Sr.	G	6-6	210	Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (Etiwanda HS)
Lawrence Borha, Utah	Sr.	G	6-3	205	Staten Island, N.Y. (Stonebridge Prep)
Honorable Mention All-Mountain West
Andrew Henke, Sr., G, Air Force
Roman Martinez, Jr., F, New Mexico
Chad Toppert, Sr., G, New Mexico
Billy White, So., F, San Diego State
Zvonko Buljan, Jr., C, TCU
Carlon Brown, So., G, Utah
Luka Drca, Jr., G, Utah
Shaun Green, Sr., F, Utah
Tyler Kepkay, Sr., G, Utah
Tyson Johnson, Sr., F, Wyoming
Sean Ogirri, Sr., G, Wyoming
Player of the Year: Luke Nevill, Utah
Defensive Player of the Year: Luke Nevill, Utah
Newcomer of the Year: Zvonko Buljan, TCU
Freshman of the Year: Afam Muojeke, Wyoming
Sixth Man of the Year: Shaun Green, Utah
Coach of the Year: Steve Alford, New Mexico
*Indicates number of previous all-conference selections

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