Cougars picked third, Traore named to All-WCC Preseason Team

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – BYU was picked third in the 2022-23 WCC Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll, the league announced on Thursday morning.

BYU sophomore Fousseyni Traore was one of two underclassmen named to the 10 player All-WCC preseason team after picking up all-freshman accolades in 2021-22.  

Gonzaga was picked to win the league after picking up nine of the 10 first-place votes. Saint Mary’s was picked second, picking up a first-place vote, with BYU and San Francisco tied for third with 57 points. Portland was picked fifth followed by Santa Clara, Pepperdine, San Diego, Loyola Marymount and Pacific.

Traore had one of the best freshman campaigns in program history in 2021-22 where he broke various school records. The native of Bamako, Mali averaged 9.6 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, shooting 58.9 percent from the field and 74.4 percent from the free throw line.

In 33 games, including 21 starts, he pulled down a program record 280 rebounds, with 93 on the offensive glass. His nine double-doubles were the second-most by a freshman in program history, with his 42 blocks putting him third on the list. He also owns the freshman record for rebounds in a game after his 25-point, 19-rebound performance in the regular season finale against Pepperdine.

The Cougars open the 2022-23 season at the friendly confines of the Marriott Center against Idaho State on Monday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m. on BYUtv.