Feb. 11, 2011

TCU is top pick in Mountain West

TCU, five-time defending Mountain West Conference champion, is the unanimous choice to make it six in voting by the league head coaches and a selected media panel, as released by the conference office.

The Horned Frogs pulled in all 16 first-place votes for 112 points, comfortably ahead of second-place BYU with 84 points. San Diego State was third, followed by New Mexico, UNLV, Utah and Air Force.

TCU returns seven position starters and its entire starting rotation. Under national Coach of the Year Jim Schlossnagle, the Horned Frogs were 21-5 in the MWC and 54-14 overall in 2010. TCU reached the College World Series for the first time a season ago.

The 2011 campaign begins on Friday, Feb. 18. The MWC Tournament will be held May 24-28 at Tony Gwynn Stadium in San Diego, Calif., the home field of San Diego State.

Mountain West Preseason Poll

Team, Points (First Place) (2010 MWC, Overall Records)

1. TCU, 112 (16) (21-5, 54-14)

2. BYU, 84 (12-12, 27-31)
3. San Diego State, 75 (13-11, 28-28)
4. New Mexico, 71 (14-8, 38-22)
5. UNLV, 45 (11-13, 29-29)
6. Utah, 43 (10-13, 23-28)
7. Air Force, 18 (3-20, 13-42)