For first time, Bulldogs put two players on All-Mountain West men's basketball team
Fresno State put two players on the All-Mountain West men's basketball team for the first time since joining the conference in 2012-13, with junior guard Deshon Taylor on the first team and sophomore forward Bryson Williams on the third team.
"Not bad, and it's two young guys coming back. That's even better," coach Rodney Terry said. "I think when you talk about accolades for your players, it's really a testament to your team and what you were able to do over the course of the conference slate.
"Having a chance to finish in the top of the league warrants an opportunity for guys to be all-conference."
It is the second all-conference team for Taylor, who last season was a third-team selection. The 6-foot-3 guard, who also was selected to the all-defensive team, is seventh in the Mountain West in scoring, averaging 17.5 points in conference play. He also is fifth in steals and first in free throws attempted and free throws made, setting a school record for free throws in going 197 of 235.
Williams, a Roosevelt High graduate, is tied with UNLV forward Shakur Juiston for 16th in the league in scoring with 13.9 points per game.
"You could make a case for Bryson on the second team, not the third team," Terry said. "I think Bryson is one of the best low-post players in this league."
Nevada forward Caleb Martin was voted as player of the year and newcomer of the year by conference coaches, with Boise State guard Alex Hobbs the sixth man of the year, UNLV center Brandon McCoy the freshman of the year and Nevada forward Cody Martin the defensive player of the year.
Nevada coach Eric Musselman, who led the Wolf Pack to the regular-season title and No. 1 seed at the conference tournament, was selected as coach of the year.
"It's a big honor, but going to the tournament is probably the most important thing right now, trying to win these three games and get to the NCAA Tournament," Taylor said.
The Bulldogs had the player of the year in the conference in Marvelle Harris in 2016 and Paul Watson was the freshman of the year in 2014.
Jaron Hopkins was on the all-defensive team last season, Harris in 2015 and '16.
But the Bulldogs in their first five seasons in the Mountain West have had only two first-team all-conference selections (Harris in 2015 and '16), one second-team selection (Tyler Johnson in 2014) and one third-team selection (Taylor last season).
They also have had two players gain honorable mention on the all-conference team (Harris in 2014 and Johnson in '13).
Fresno State, which went 5-11 in its first season in the Mountain West after taking a significant step up from the Western Athletic Conference, improved its conference win total in each of the next three seasons.
The Bulldogs went 9-9 in 2013-14, 10-8 in 2014-15 and 13-5 in 2015-16.
They went 11-7 last season and again this year and are a No. 4 seed for the conference tournament, playing No. 5 San Diego State in a quarterfinal at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
"I think it speaks well for our team and the success we had over our conference slate," Terry said. "Deshon was pretty consistent throughout the course of conference play in terms of doing what he needed to do night in and night out, he and Bryson both, on both ends of the floor."
All-Mountain West Conference
First team
Chandler Hutchison, Sr., G, Boise State
Deshon Taylor, Jr., G, Fresno State
Jordan Caroline, Jr., G/F, Nevada
Caleb Martin, Jr., F, Nevada
Justin James, Jr., G, Wyoming
Second team
Cody Martin, Jr., F, Nevada
Malik Pope, Sr., F, San Diego State
Shakur Juiston, Jr., F, UNLV
Brandon McCoy, Fr., F/C, UNLV
Hayden Dalton, Sr., F, Wyoming
Third team
Bryson Williams, So., F, Fresno State
Kendall Stephens, Sr., G, Nevada
Anthony Mathis, Jr., G, New Mexico
Koby McEwen, So., G, Utah State
Sam Merrill, So., G, Utah State
Honorable mention
Nico Carvacho, So., F/C, Colorado State
Antino Jackson, Sr., G, New Mexico
Jalen McDaniels, Fr., F, San Diego State
Ryan Welage, Jr., F, San José State
All-defensive team
Chandler Hutchison, Sr., G, Boise State
Deshon Taylor, Jr., G, Fresno State
Lindsey Drew, Jr., G, Nevada
Cody Martin, Jr., F, Nevada
Antino Jackson, Sr., G, New Mexico
Alan Herndon, Sr., F, Wyoming
This story was originally published March 6, 2018 at 1:41 PM with the headline "For first time, Bulldogs put two players on All-Mountain West men's basketball team."