SAN FRANCISCO — Utah men’s basketball forward Timmy Allen was named to the Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Preseason Media All-Conference First-Team on Thursday the league announced during its virtual media day. In addition, the Utes were picked to finish eighth this season by the league’s media.
After finishing last season with a team-high 17.3 points average to go with his 7.3 rebounding average and .441 shooting clip, Allen earned All-Pac-12 Second-Team honors before being selected a preseason first-teamer. His 17.3 points average was good for sixth-most in the Pac-12 last year while his 7.3 boards average was good for eighth-best.
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Just last week, the Mesa, Ariz., product was named to the 20 player Julius Erving Award Watch List, which is given annually to the top small forward in Division I men’s basketball. Heading into the 2020-21 campaign, Allen needs just 108 points to become the 40th Utah player to join the 1,000 points club.
In addition, Utah was picked to finish eighth in the preseason polls. However, the Utes have finished in third (2018-19) and fourth (2016-17), respectively, in those years they were picked to finish eighth. Heading into its 10th season as a member of the Pac-12, Utah has exceeded the polls every year besides the 2014-15 season when it finished tied for second after being projected to finish second in the preseason polls.
UCLA was picked to win the league for the first time since the 2011-12 season with 251 points as Mick Cronin begins his second year at the helm in Westwood. Arizona State was right behind the Bruins with 246 points to match its highest preseason poll ranking ever (2008-09). Meanwhile, Oregon – who was picked to finish first three of the last four seasons – rounds out the top-three with 241 points. Stanford received a first-place vote and checked in with 209 points followed by Arizona (173) and USC (154) – who was the fifth and final team to receive a first-place vote.
Colorado was predicted to finish seventh by the media with 149 total points followed by the Utes with 131 points. Washington (85), California (65), Washington State (54) and Oregon State (36) round out the media poll for the upcoming 2020-21 Pac-12 season.
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The Pac-12 is slated to begin its inaugural 20-game conference season this year starting in December. Utah will open conference play on Thursday, Dec. 3, at home against Washington before traveling to Arizona State on Tuesday, Dec. 22, as part of the two additional league games.
2020-21 PAC-12 MEN’S BASKETBALL PRESEASON MEDIA POLL
RK. TEAM (FIRST-PLACE VOTES) POINTS
1. UCLA (9) 251
2. Arizona State (5) 246
3. Oregon (7) 241
4. Stanford (1) 209
5. Arizona 173
6. USC (1) 154
7. Colorado 149
8. Utah 131
9. Washington 85
10. California 65
11. Washington State 54
12. Oregon State 36
