The New Mexico Lobos are the favorite to win the Mountain West this season and gained 22-of-26 first place votes with the UNLV Rebels getting the other four first place votes and is expected to finish second this year.
Newcomer Boise State is projected to finish last, but it will be a tight battle between them and TCU who is projected to finish eighth. The difference between the two schools is only one point.
The difference between fourth and fifth is a large gap between Colorado State and Air Force, and I am somewhat surprised that Air Force is fifth.
Here is the complete preseason predictions and all-conference side:
| 2011-12 PRESEASON MEDIA POLL | ||
| Rk. | School (First-Place Votes | Pts. |
| 1. | New Mexico (22) | 203 |
| 2. | UNLV (4) | 183 |
| 3. | San Diego State | 158 |
| 4. | Colorado State | 119 |
| 5. | Air Force | 78 |
| 6. | Wyoming | 68 |
| 7. | TCU | 64 |
| 8. | Boise State | 63 |
| 2011-12 MOUNTAIN WEST PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM | |||
| Name | Class | Position | Institution |
| Oscar Bellfield | Sr. | G | UNLV |
| Drew Gordon | Sr. | F | New Mexico |
| Chace Stanback | Sr. | G/F | UNLV |
| Hank Thorns | Sr. | G | TCU |
| Kendall Williams | So. | G | New Mexico |
| Preseason Player of the Year | |||
| Drew Gordon, Sr., F, New Mexico | |||
| Preseason Newcomer of the Year | |||
| Xavier Thames, So., G, San Diego State | |||
| Preseason Freshman of the Year | |||
| Hugh Greenwood, G, New Mexico | |||