Here's my ballot for the pre-season all Mountain West Conference team.
Look at the next blog entry to my team picks.

ILIANA'S ALL-MWC TEAM
Kim Smith, Utah
Shona Thorburn, Utah
Dionne Marsh, New Mexico
Sheena Moore, UNLV
Katie Montgomery, New Mexico
Top Returning Player
Shona Thorburn, Utah
Top Newcomer
Brittany Purdum, TCU

THE FINAL ALL-MWC TEAM
Kim Smith, Utah
Shona Thorburn, Utah
Sheena Moore, UNLV
Dionne Marsh, New Mexico
Melissa Dennett, CSU
Top Returing Player: Kim Smith
Top Newcomer: Faye Mueller, UNLV

I have the sense that New Mexico will outperform CSU and Katie Montgomery will have a greater impact on the conference race than Melissa Dennett. Of course, Katie isn't coming off a banner season because it will be her first full year at point replacing Mandi Moore. Dennett is a senior who has put in considerable time and always is a force for the Rams. I just think Katie is coming off a better year in the sense that she played a big roll for the Lobos as a versatile guard with the best outside shot in clutch situations. She aptly filled in when Mandi suffered her eye injury, while Dennett's team was crippled by controversy and internal strife.
The rest of the individual honors ballot seems like a no-brainer to me.
Kim Smith and Shona Thorburn are really strong players and last season's Co-MVPs. No one could stop Dionne Marsh last season and that isn't likely to change. Sheena Moore was unbelievable in helping UNLV come oh-so-close to knocking off the Lobos. She is a dynamic playmaker who deserves first-team honors.
I think Shona Thorburn should have trumped Kim Smith for all conference honors because she never wavered last season for the Utes. Smith disappeared in games, especially against the Lobos, while Thorburn was steady and a dominant force on both sides of the ball for the Utes. She's scrappy and smooth at the same time, never giving up on a play. She carried her team and showed me more than Smith did last season.
The top newcomer award is always just a guess. No one saw Dionne's break-out year coming, and it's hard to predict who will make the most impact. It easily could be a Lobo again this year with the holes New Mexico needs to fill both inside and on the perimeter.

Posted by ilimon at 03:13 PM | Permalink