UNM Lobos Tabbed as Mountain West Preseason Favorite; Jake Hall Named Player of the Year
The UNM Lobo men's basketball team has been selected as the No. 1 team in the Mountain West Conference preseason rankings, announced at the league's media day held in Las Vegas, Nevada. Additionally, UNM's Jake Hall was named the preseason…
Albuquerque Santa Fe, NM, October 7, 2026 — The University of New Mexico (UNM) Lobos men’s basketball program has been recognized as the top team in the Mountain West Conference according to the league’s preseason rankings. The announcement was made during the Mountain West Conference’s annual media day event, which took place in Las Vegas, Nevada. This preseason designation places the Lobos at the forefront of expectations heading into the upcoming season.
In addition to the team’s top ranking, a significant individual honor was also bestowed upon a UNM player. Jake Hall, a prominent member of the Lobos roster, was named the preseason player of the year for the Mountain West Conference. This award highlights Hall’s perceived impact and performance potential for the upcoming season, as judged by conference media or coaches, depending on the specific voting process for these honors.
Preseason rankings and player of the year selections are often indicators of a team’s and individual player’s potential based on returning talent, past performance, and perceived strengths. For the UNM Lobos, being selected as the number one team suggests a high level of confidence from those forecasting the conference standings. Jake Hall’s selection as preseason player of the year further underscores the Lobos’ anticipated success, positioning him as a key figure to watch throughout the season.
The Mountain West Conference media day serves as the official kickoff for the basketball season, providing an opportunity for coaches, players, and media to discuss team outlooks, preview upcoming schedules, and address league-wide topics. The specific details regarding the voting for both the team rankings and the preseason player of the year were part of the announcements made at this event.
Further information regarding the full preseason all-conference teams, projected standings, and team previews were also expected to be released in conjunction with the media day proceedings. The official start of the basketball season will determine how these preseason accolades translate into on-court performance for the UNM Lobos and Jake Hall.
Story summarized from the original created by Robert Towne on www.kob.com, see more information here.
