Picture by Joe Grimando
It is December 21st, and Winter has officially arrived! Mountain West conference-play is fully under way – And one game-in, this league has already seen its share of beat-downs, come-from-behind wins, and upsets. As author Kurt Vonnegut would say, So it goes. – Especially in the conference that has coined the phrase, Mountain West Madness.
While this week served as a light appetizer to what we might encounter in the coming months, our Couch Potato Sports team still had to take another swing at capturing the Mountain West hoops hierarchy.
Below, you’ll find our team’s composite rankings (much in the style of the AP Top-25 poll), as well as an explanation of how many points each team received. Is your team a little too low? Too high? Let us know. And remember, anything can happen in league play…
Mountain West Power Rankings
#1: Utah State Aggies (10-1, 1-0 MWC) | 36 points
Previous Rank: #1
Why: The Aggies continue to storm through their schedule. And if there were any doubts to their being the best team in the Mountain West thus far – Those doubts were put to rest in a 42-point, eye-catching blowout over a hot Colorado State team (100 – 58). Star player Mason Falslev led the team in scoring (18 points), while MJ Collins and Adlan Elamin contributed 15 a piece. Utah State gets to rest this week, and will look to avoid a trap game at Fresno State next.
#2: New Mexico Lobos (10-2, 1-0 MWC) | 33 points
Previous Rank: #2
Why: The Lobos went into this weekend’s SJSU match-up without three players (including two starters – Chris Howell, and the explosive Tomislav Buljan). This required a test of depth, and players like Milos Vicentic (who led the team in scoring, with 19 points) stepped up in a major way. San Jose State was able to hang around for much of the 1st half (and a brief run, early in the 2nd), but the Lobos’ clamped down, and SJSU ultimately crumbled in The Pit. Eric Olen‘s crew continues to build momentum – That momentum will be needed as they make the challenging trip to Boise next week.
#3: Nevada Wolf Pack (9-3, 1-0 MWC) | 30 points
Previous Rank: #5 (Tie)
Why: Nevada just picked up its most impressive win in recent memory, handling a Boise State team that some of our writers (okay, I’m guilty) had pegged as the best team in the conference. Sure, the Wolf Pack had its share of speed bumps in the non-conference, but this weekend’s win undoubtedly serves as a warning shot to Mountain West foes (and fans) overlooking the Pack. Tayshawn Comer was fantastic in Nevada’s win, putting up 24 points and 4 assists in the effort. Next up, Nevada has another opportunity for a statement win, as they’ll visit Colorado State.
#4: San Diego State Aztecs (6-4, 1-0 MWC) | 24 points
Previous Rank: #5 (Tie)
Why: The Aztecs have been an oddly-mixed bag this season. They aren’t lacking in talent by any means, but they’re having a tough time translating this into any kind of meaningful rhythm. Even so, SDSU opened conference play with a win, pulling away from a pesky Air Force squad that continues to have its own struggles. And sure, the Aztecs took a licking at the hands of Arizona this weekend, but Arizona is the best team in the country (and the Aztecs did manage to hang around in the first half). SDSU will look to rebound and refine this week, and shouldn’t have too much trouble against Division-III foe Whittier College.
#5: Colorado State Rams (9-3, 0-1 MWC) | 23 points | Previous: #3 (Tie)
#6: Wyoming Cowboys (9-3, 0-1 MWC) | 21 points | Previous: #5 (Tie)
#7: Grand Canyon Antelopes (7-4, 1-0 MWC) | 18 points | Previous: #8
#8: Boise State Broncos (8-4, 0-1 MWC) | 17 points | Previous: #3 (Tie)
Why: Colorado State, Wyoming, and Boise State came into conference play with some heat – Yet, each came away disappointed in their respective league openers. And while each of these squads drop in this week’s rankings (None more so than Boise State), too much can’t be drawn from the opening weekend of conference play. For the Rams and Broncos, there isn’t much shame in losing at The Spectrum or Lawlor, though the Rams are undoubtedly hoping to erase their 42-point loss from memory.
As for Grand Canyon, credit is absolutely due to a program that went into its inaugural Mountain West showdown on a mission. The Antelopes cooled a Wyoming team that has once again gotten folks excited in Laradise, handing the Cowboys their first loss, and doing so at an always-daunting Arena Auditorium (which sits at an elevation that is 6134 feet higher than in Phoenix, Arizona – Where the ‘Lopes play ball).
#9: UNLV Runnin’ Rebels (5-6, 1-0 MWC) | 14 points | Previous: #9 (Tie)
#10: San Jose State Spartans (5-7, 0-1 MWC) | 8 points | Previous: #10
#11: Fresno State Bulldogs (6-6, 0-1 MWC) | 7 points | Previous: #11
#12 Air Force Falcons (3-9, 0-1 MWC) | 3 points | Previous: #12
Why: This particular quartet of Mountain West teams comes into league-play limping, crawling, and wheezing. And yet, this frustrated foursome gritted its teeth and continued to trade blows. UNLV was able to win a boxing match with Fresno State, coming back from a halftime deficit. And Air Force and San Jose State proved troublesome for much of their respective match-ups against the Mountain West heavyweights.
The pieces are there to develop and improve, and whatever the season outlook may be – Each of these teams can go out swinging. This week offers a much-needed chance for rest and recovery, before these teams dive back into the gauntlet of conference play.
How Our Team Voted
| Dan’s Rankings | Jay’s Rankings | Larry’s Rankings | Point Value |
| 1. Utah State | 1. Utah State | 1. Utah State | 12 points |
| 2. New Mexico | 2. New Mexico | 2. New Mexico | 11 points |
| 3. Nevada | 3. Nevada | 3. Nevada | 10 points |
| 4. Wyoming | 4. Boise State | 4. Colorado State | 9 points |
| 5. San Diego State | 5. San Diego State | 5. San Diego State | 8 points |
| 6. Colorado State | 6. Colorado State | 6. Wyoming | 7 points |
| 7. Grand Canyon | 7. Grand Canyon | 7. Grand Canyon | 6 points |
| 8. UNLV | 8. Wyoming | 8. UNLV | 5 points |
| 9. Boise State | 9. UNLV | 9. Boise State | 4 points |
| 10. San Jose State | 10. Fresno State | 10. San Jose State | 3 points |
| 11. Fresno State | 11. San Jose State | 11. Fresno State | 2 points |
| 12. Air Force | 12. Air Force | 12. Air Force | 1 point |
Thanks for reading – You can find more content from our writers at the following:
- Couch Potato Sports: https://x.com/CouchPSports
- Dan: https://www.instagram.com/couchpotatosportscoverage/?hl=en
- Jay: https://x.com/LoboSauceJay
- Larry: https://x.com/LarryMunizCBB
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