PHOTO BY JOE GRIMANDO
As we dig deeper into the New Year and the conference portion of the schedule, teams are keeping things interesting. With “upsets” of sorts along with several double-digit beatings across the board. The Mountain West is back at it, battering & bruising each other for a quad 1 or quad 2 win here & there.
As that strategy slowly erodes down the idea of a four or five bid Mountain West come March. It makes for some entertaining basketball for fans & onlookers alike.
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 (14-1, 5-0 MWC) | 36 points
Previous Rank: #1
Weekly Snapshot: Won, at Air Force (99-62); Won, at Boise State (93-68)
Why: The Aggies continue to steamroll through the Mountain West. Unanimously ranked atop the conference after another pair of convincing wins over Air Force & Boise State. Those wins came at by an average margin of 31.0 PPG. That kind of win against the Falcons could be expected, but on the road in Boise, that’s impressive.
That’s mostly thanks in part to the high scoring duo of Mason Falslev & MJ Collins Jr., who may both find themselves at the top of anyone’s Player of the Year watchlist right about now. Collins Jr. averaged 22.5 PPG in those two contests last week & Falslev added 14.5 PPG, but this isn’t a two man show either.
As Coach Calhoun’s squad chipped in a whopping 43 points from the bench against Air Force & another 27 against Boise State. At the moment, I can’t think of a more well rounded team who has only lived up to their preseason potential than Utah State.
#2 San Diego State (11-4, 5-0 MWC) | 32 points
Previous Rank: #3
Weekly Snapshot: Won, at Nevada (73-68); Won, vs. Fresno State (71-52)
Why: The Aztecs are finding their winning rhythm in conference play. Sitting tied at first with Utah State & no end in sight until each side face off on the hardwood on January 31st inside the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. For the time being Coach Dutcher’s squad went on the road last week & secured a convincing win over Nevada & made a homestand against maybe the most improved squad in the conference in Fresno State, with one of the league’s best scorers on their roster.
That win over Steve Alford’s Wolf Pack was an important one. As San Diego State’s less than convincing non-conference performance were likely giving Aztec fans an uneasy feeling. As the program has made five straight trips to the big dance, but have failed to cut down any nets in two years. With the team looking at a summer exit, this team has some pressure on them to make their last season in the Mountain West a memorable one.
Luckily for them, this team is deep. Even as some players have failed to live up to the preseason hype afforded to them. The talent is still there, with five Aztecs reaching double figures Tuesday night against Nevada. And Magoon Gwath perhaps having a breakout game against the Bulldogs, with 18 points, 8 rebounds & 2 blocks in just 22 minutes on the floor.
#3 New Mexico (13-3, 4-1 MWC) | 31 points
Previous Rank: #4
Weekly Snapshot: Won, at Colorado State (80-70); Won, at Air Force (91-49)
Why: The Lobos continue to have possibly the quietest dominant season in the conference thus far. Chasing a two headed title race behind preseason favorites Utah State & San Diego State. New Mexico went out on the road in the Centennial State and secured two road wins over the Rams and Falcons in convincing fashion. When every win counts in a tight title race, these road wins will keep Eric Olen’s squad battle tested.
Those results belong to fantastic freshman Jake Hall, who played some of his best basketball all season in Colorado last week. Averaging 21.0 PPG & shooting 54% (13-24) from the floor & 53% (8-15) from deep. Former Summit League Sixth Man of the Year has also found his offensive rhythm at the perfect time. With Tajavis Miller averaging a complementary 13.5 PPG off of the bench last week. The Lobos’ offensive style will result in some good shooting nights for their stars & likely some bad ones. But if players continue to step up, this New Mexico team can challenge for a second consecutive title.
#4 Nevada (12-4, 4-1 MWC) | 27 points
Previous Rank: #2
Weekly Snapshot: Lost, vs. San Diego State (73-68); Won, vs. Wyoming (92-83)
Why: The Wolf Pack slid slightly after failing to keep the W in Reno when the Aztecs came to town on Tuesday night. Yes that’s a tall task for any team, but failing to capitalize on the boards & shooting from three will make your advantage at the charity stripe & all of those points earned off of turnovers null in void come the final buzzard.
Luckily for Nevada, they managed to hold off a Wyoming squad capable of a road upset on Saturday night. Thanks to a 31 piece by Corey Camper Jr. & Elijah Price’s second double-double of the week. These performances keep Steve Alford’s group in the title race, tied for second with New Mexico & right behind the Aggies & Aztecs in first.
#5 Grand Canyon (10-5, 3-1 MWC) | 24 points
Previous Rank: #8
Weekly Snapshot: Won, at Boise State (75-58); Won vs. San Jose State (76-58)
#6 Colorado State Rams (11-5, 2-3 MWC) | 20 points
Previous Rank: #6
Weekly Snapshot: Lost, vs. New Mexico (80-70); Won, vs. UNLV (70-62)
#7 Wyoming Cowboys (11-5, 2-3 MWC) | 18 points
Previous Rank: #7
Weekly Snapshot: Won, vs. UNLV (98-66); Lost, at Nevada (92-83)
#8 Boise State (9-7, 1-4 MWC) | 16 points
Previous Rank: #5
Weekly Snapshot: Lost vs. Grand Canyon (75-58) , Lost, vs. Utah State (93-68)
Why: As Boise State & Colorado State lost their place in the top-5 after a tough week. Grand Canyon put the league on notice with back-to-back double-digit wins. Heading on the road & handing the Broncos another unflattering conference loss. Thanks to the stellar play of European import Efe Demirel 13.5 PPG & 7.0 RPG, while shooting 64% from the floor.
While Sundance Wicks’ Wyoming Cowboys handed the Runnin’ Rebels a nasty 32-point loss inside the Dome of Doom. Even though they sent UNLV to the line a whopping FORTY-FIVE times, yes they shot 55.6% on the free ones, ouch. Colorado State then went out & handed Josh Pastner’s group their second loss of the week. That 70-62 win was also Rashaan Mbemba’s first game back since late November. When the Austrian big man’s return to the court in full force was spurned once again by injury. He shook the rust off with a cool 11 points & 6 rebounds in just twenty minutes off of the bench.
#9 UNLV Runnin’ Rebels (7-8, 2-2 MWC) | 12 points
Previous Rank: #9
Weekly Snapshot: Lost at Wyoming (98-66); Lost, at Colorado State (70-62)
#10 Fresno State Bulldogs (7-9, 1-4 MWC) | 9 points
Previous Rank: #10
Weekly Snapshot: Won, at San Jose State (63-72); Lost, vs. San Diego State (71-52)
#11 San Jose State Spartans (5-11, 0-5 MWC) | 6 points
Previous Rank: #11
Weekly Snapshot: Lost, vs. Fresno State (70-55); Lost, at Grand Canyon (76-58)
#12 Air Force Falcons (3-13, 0-5 MWC) | 3 points
Previous Rank: #12
Weekly Snapshot: Lost, vs. Utah State (99-62 ); Lost, vs. New Mexico (91-49)
Why: The teams at the bottom of the conference, I.e. Fresno State, San Jose State & Air Force appear to have new company in the Runnin’ Rebels of UNLV. While these expected cellar dwellers seem obviously a step below those ranked 1-8 above. UNLV has managed to show spurts of brilliance, securing one of the conferences few quad 1 wins on the road at Stanford in December. And following that up with maybe their worst stretch of basketball last week on the road. I mean yes, we’d all like to play all of our games inside the Thomas & Mack Center, but the Runnin’ Rebels looked like a different team on the road.
I’m sure this team riddled with injuries will find a rhythm & surprise some teams during conference play. I mean the talent is still there. But for now, they appear right where they belong at #9. Also I knew the only way Fresno State or San Jose State would get any sort of results in the win column would be against each other. The Bulldogs took the first possible W back down the 152.
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. San Diego State | 2. San Diego State | 11 points |
| 3. San Diego State | 3. New Mexico | 3. New Mexico | 10 points |
| 4. Nevada | 4. Nevada | 4. Nevada | 9 points |
| 5. Grand Canyon | 5. Grand Canyon | 5. Grand Canyon | 8 points |
| 6. Colorado State | 6. Colorado State | 6. Wyoming | 7 points |
| 7. Wyoming | 7. Boise State | 7. Colorado State | 6 points |
| 8. Boise State | 8. Wyoming | 8. Boise State | 5 points |
| 9. UNLV | 9. UNLV | 9. UNLV | 4 points |
| 10. Fresno State | 10. Fresno State | 10. Fresno State | 3 points |
| 11. San Jose State | 11. San Jose State | 11. San Jose State | 2 points |
| 12. Air Force | 12. Air Force | 12. Air Force | 1 point |
Thank you 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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