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UTRGV Men’s Basketball Picked Third in Preseason WAC Polls

Levi Earns Preseason All-WAC First Team Honors

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RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) announced on Tuesday that The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) men’s basketball team has been picked to finish third in both the coaches’ and media preseason polls during the upcoming 2020-21 season.

Additionally, senior guard Javon Levi is part of both the coaches’ and media Preseason All-WAC First Teams.

This is the highest UTRGV has ever been picked in the preseason polls after previously getting picked fourth in both polls last year. UTRGV has outperformed the preseason polls three years in a row, including finishing a program best third last year by going 9-7 in WAC play. UTRGV outperformed the 2018-19 poll by two spots, finishing fourth, after outperforming the 2017-18 poll by one spot, finishing fifth. UTRGV has improved its final standing by one spot each of the last two years after making a two-spot jump in 2017-18.

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UTRGV was picked behind only three-time defending WAC Champion New Mexico State, which was picked first in both polls, and Grand Canyon, which was picked second in both polls after tying for fifth last year. UTRGV was picked ahead of California Baptist, which finished second last year but came in fourth in both polls.

The two-time reigning WAC Defensive Player of the Year and a two-time Lefty Driesell Defensive All-American, Levi is coming off of a season in which, despite missing five games, he ranked second in the NCAA in assists per game (7.96), 11th in steals per game (2.4), 12th in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.93), 13th in total assists (199), and 34th in total steals (60), leading the WAC in each category. He also averaged 11.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. Levi led UTRGV in assists 23 times, scoring twice and rebounding five times. He reached double-figures in scoring 15 times, including two games of 20+ points, and assists nine times en route to four double-doubles.

During WAC play, Levi averaged 12.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 7.9 assists and 1.9 steals in 15 games. He ranked 14thin the conference in scoring, first in assists and second in steals while sporting a WAC-best 2.7 assist-to-turnover ratio

For his career, Levi ranks second in program history in total steals (204) and fourth in total assists (524). He ranks 16th in WAC history and second among teams still in the WAC in total assists and 11th in WAC history and third among teams still in the WAC in total steals.

WAC Preseason Coaches’ PollWAC Preseason Media Poll
RankTeam (First Place Votes)PointsRankTeam (First Place Votes)Points
1.New Mexico State (8)641.New Mexico State (10)150
2.Grand Canyon (1)522.Grand Canyon125
3.UTRGV453.UTRGV114
4.California Baptist434.California Baptist (2)105
5.Seattle U335.Seattle U84
6.Tarleton State316.Utah Valley74
7.Utah Valley287.Dixie State49
8.Dixie State20 8.Tarleton State46
9.Chicago State89.Chicago State18
Coaches’ Preseason All-WAC First TeamMedia Preseason All-WAC First Team
NameTeamNameTeam
Alessandro LeverGrand CanyonJovan BlacksherGrand Canyon
Javon LeviUTRGVAlessandro LeverGrand Canyon
Johnny McCantsNew Mexico StateJavon LeviUTRGV
Jabari Rice*New Mexico StateJohnny McCantsNew Mexico State
Donnie TillmanNew Mexico StateJabari Rice*New Mexico State
*Preseason Player of the Year*Preseason Player of the Year
Coaches’ Preseason All-WAC Second TeamMedia Preseason All-WAC Second Team
NameTeamNameTeam
Jovan BlacksherGrand CanyonEvan ColeUtah Valley
Oscar FrayerGrand CanyonGorjok GakCalifornia Baptist
Riley GrigsbySeattle UEvan GilyardNew Mexico State
Evan GilyardNew Mexico StateHunter SchofieldDixie State
Hunter SchofieldDixie StateDonnie TillmanNew Mexico State
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