Slim pickings for Utes in MWC awards

Later today, I need to send in my offical MWC ballot for the postseason basketball awards. Don’t expect to see many Ute names on the list when the awards are announced Monday afternoon.
I’m going to vote for Lawrence Borha as defensive player of the year, because he has done agood job of shutting down the opponents’ best player for the most part and because no one else in the league stands out as a defender to me.
No Utes will make the all-MWC first team, which will likely consist of BYU’s Lee Cummard and Trent Plaisted, New Mexico’s J.R. Giddens, San Diego State’s Lorenzo Wade and UNLV’s Wink Adams.
Only two Ute players were even nominated by their coaches — Luke Nevill and Johnnie Bryant — and I believe one will make second team and the other third team. I personally would put Bryant ahead of Nevill, but MWC voters will likely put Nevill ahead of Bryant.
Player of the Year honors should come down between Giddens and Cummard with the latter having the edge because of first-place finish by his team. SDSU’s Billy White should get freshman of the year honors, while Colorado State’s Marcus Walker should be the newcomer of the year.
Coach of the year honors will probably go to New Mexico’s Steve Alford, although BYU’s Dave Rose could repeat.
Back in the old days, the Utes used to dominate these awards. However, there aren’t going to be a lot of Utes honored this year.