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PROVO — The BYU men's and women's basketball teams were each selected to finish second in the West Coast Conference in the annual preseason coach's poll announced Monday.
The BYU men were selected to finish second to defending champion Gonzaga, receiving one first-place vote — the only non-Zags coaches' vote in the poll for 73 total points, which was eight behind the Bulldogs.
Senior guards Kyle Collinsworth and Chase Fischer were each named to the all-WCC preseason first team. The duo led the Cougars to a 25-10 record, 13-5 during conference play, and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
BYU hosts the Cougar Tipoff intrasquad scrimmage Wednesday, followed by an exhibition game against Arizona Christian on Friday night. The Cougars' regular-season opener comes Nov. 13 against Utah Valley.
The BYU women were also picked to finish second to Gonzaga, receiving four first-place votes to six for the Zags. Gonzaga edged BYU in total points, 78-76 in the final tally.
BYU's Lexi Eaton Rydalch and Kylie Maeda were each named to the all-WCC preseason first team.
Both BYU and Gonzaga advanced to the NCAA women's tournament a year ago, with BYU taking the automatic bid guaranteed to the WCC's tournament champion and the Bulldogs advancing to the Sweet 16 as an at-large team following its regular-season conference championship — one of just five programs nationally to advance both its men's and women's programs as deep in the tourney.
BYU opens the season Nov. 5 with an exhibition against Fort Lewis, followed by the regular-season opener Nov. 13 against Utah Valley.
2015-16 All-WCC Preseason Men's Basketball Coaches' Poll
| School | Points |
|---|---|
| Gonzaga | 81 |
| BYU | 73 |
| Pepperdine | 62 |
| Saint Mary's | 58 |
| Portland | 43 |
| Santa Clara | 37 |
| Pacific | 32 |
| San Francisco | 32 |
| San Diego | 17 |
| Loyola Marymount | 15 |
2015-16 All-WCC Preseason Women's Basketball Coaches Poll
| School | Points |
|---|---|
| Gonzaga | 78 |
| BYU | 76 |
| Saint Mary's | 61 |
| San Diego | 58 |
| San Francisco | 51 |
| Pacific | 40 |
| Santa Clara | 30 |
| Loyola Marymount | 25 |
| Pepperdine | 20 |
| Portland | 11 |
