Mac Pham, Contributing Writer
Mountain West conference play in 2023-2024 has been as deep as it ever has been in the leagues almost 25 year history. Four programs have been ranked in the top 25 at least once this season – SDSU, No. 22 Utah State, Colorado State and New Mexico.
Though the 2011-2012 season saw New Mexico, San Diego State, and UNLV all finish in the season in the Top-25, those were the only three teams to qualify for the NCAA Tournament.
Last year saw an indication of improvement in the league as four Mountain West teams made it onto brackets come selection Sunday. While SDSU kept dancing all the way to the national championship, the other three conference mates – Utah State, Boise State, and Nevada all went one and done.
Had it not been for the Aztecs ‘San Diego State miracle’ of making it to the grandest stage, the league certainly would have received a knock down in national perception after another poor showing
This year in projection of the NET rankings, the Mountain West has six programs in line to make the dance – SDSU, No. 22 Utah State, Colorado State, New Mexico, Boise State and Nevada.
This season however, six of SDSU’s nine losses have come at the hands of five of those programs, including two to Boise State.
Coming in as an unfamiliar #5 seed, San Diego State has its work cut out for them this week when they head to Las Vegas for the conference tournament in the friendly confines of the Thomas & Mack Center.
SDSU head coach Brian Dutcher, who recently signed a contract extension with the team, spoke about the Mountain West opponents presenting a challenge every night.
“I always say to the team, ‘it’s not who you’re playing, it’s how you’re playing that matters,” Dutcher said after a win over Fresno State. “San Jose State will be a challenge. We can’t just say ‘Well it’s San Jose State, we’re going to win.”
Ranking High
As of the week 18 rankings, SDSU has played four teams that are currently in the top 25. – No. 19 Gonzaga, No. 20 BYU, No. 22 Utah State and No. 23 Saint Mary’s.
SDSU has a record of 3-2 against these teams, including a split with Utah State and found themselves out of the Mountain West regular season title contention after losing three of their last five to end the season.
Last Saturday night, Utah State clinched its first ever Mountain West regular season title with a win over New Mexico on Saturday night.
The Aggies have won 9 of their last 12 and have not missed a beat, remaining a formidable foe in the Mountain West despite losing their head coach, staff, and top five scorers from last season.
Let’s take a look at the top seven seeds in the Mountain West tournament and see how each of these fair in taking home the Mountain West Conference Tournament crown.
Utah State
Reason for hope:
The Aggies lead the Mountain West in 3-point percentage defensively (28.2). The Aggies continue to play with house money, as they have exceeded expectations behind first year head coach Danny Sprinkle. When Great Osobar (17 ppg) scores over 20 points, the Aggies are 11-1.
Reason for concern:
Despite being the one seed, if the Aggies advance to the semi-finals, they could potentially run into a matchup against national runner ups.
Nevada
Reason for hope:
Lead guard Jarod Lucas is averaging 17.8 points on 42/40/90 percent shooting splits. He can absolutely shoot the lights out and knock down back breaking 3-pointers. Nevada is the only team that has two players – Lucas and guard Kenan Blackshear, (15.1 ppg) top ten in the Mountain West in scoring.
Reason for concern:
The Wolf Pack have had nine games where Lucas or Blackshear finished with ten points or less. They are 3-6 in such circumstances. The Wolf Pack will need to generate offense elsewhere if defenses key in on their top two scorers as they cannot afford an off night from Lucas and Blackshear.
Boise State
Reason for hope:
The Broncos have a pair of shooters, guards Chibuzo Agbo and Max Rice that have hit at least 36 percent of their 3-pointers and knocked down 70 total 3-pointers on the season. They can play off leading scorer Tyson Deganhart (16.8 ppg) to keep defenses honest on the perimeter.
Reason for concern:
In this era of basketball, it’s a make or miss from deep. Can the Broncos avoid that game where they cannot buy a 3-point basket?
UNLV
Reason for hope: peaking at the right time
UNLV has won 10 of their last 12 games to close the regular season. Led by co-freshman of the year guard Dedan Thomas Jr, they also have four starters averaging in double figures this season. They are also fifth in the Mountain West in defensive 3-point percentage (31.6)
Reason for concern:
While UNLV has four double digit scorers on the season, who is their go-to man? UNLV does a great job getting their guys involved, but do they have someone that can hit a bail out shot or make a shot on a broken play in a big moment?
New Mexico
The Lobos finished the year with a 22-9 record, yet still somehow underachieved yet again at 10-8 in the Mountain West.
Reason for hope: Explosive Talent
The Lobos are 22-9 this season, 10-8 in the Mountain West, and are the No. 6 seed in the Mountain West Tournament for the second straight year. New Mexico had three players recognized as All-Mountain West, Donovan Dent and JT Toppin on the second team and Jaelen House on the third team. Toppin was named the conference’s Co-Freshman of the Year and Mustapha Amzil was the conference’s Co-Sixth Man of the Year.
They have the fire power to win the whole tournament and they may need to in order to find themselves a ticket to punch come selection Sunday.
Reason for concern:
Failing to avoid Wednesday’s play in game, they face Air Force in a repeat matchup they lost at home in the Pit just about a month ago. As explosive as their talent may be, too much lack of execution at key moments have set them back from fully reaching their potential. Another loss to the Falcons is unlikely, but a higher grade opponent can take advantage of the Lobos if they don’t bring their A game.
Colorado State
After the out of conference play ended to start the season, the Rams boasted the Mountain West’s top spot coming in to conference play. Big wins and performances set them apart and geared up for a successful run and an impressive NET ranking. Finishing 22-9, 10-8 in conference play just wasn’t good enough to establish dominance over the league in some pivotal matchups.
Reason for hope:
Simply put, Isaiah Stevens. Regarded as perhaps the best all around point guard in the Mountain West, Stevens averages just over 16 points a game and 45% from 3-pt land. He has the ability to bring his team back from any deficit and can do it all.
Reason for concern:
Stevens team around him has been inconsistent at times. Though well rounded players with tons of ability, they just have not shown themselves in conference play to be as special or physical as needed to demand real Championship consideration.
San Diego State
Reason for hope: Jaedon LeDee
In the Mountain West tournament, SDSU will have the best player, Jaedon LeDee in every game.
There are not many matchups in the Mountain West that can challenge LeDee individually. Not only can LeDee score with his post game, hit face-up jump shots and pull-up jumpers, but he can impose his will with his physicality.
LeDee’s ability to play through contact and finish through contact can put defenders in a tight spot. Going to the charity stripe can help put SDSU in bonus time early and limit opposing teams’ aggressiveness defensively.
Reason for concern: Perimeter shooting
SDSU is bottom in the Mountain West in 3-point shooting percentage (31.6). Over the last five games of the season, the top two shooters, Reese Waters and Micah Parrish, have gone ice cold, shooting a combined 13-47 from downtown (27 percent).
If opposing teams key on LeDee and are willing to live with open perimeter shots, SDSU will have to make them pay and knock down 3-pointers at a serviceable clip.
More to know for tournament time
• SDSU has posted a 14-1 record at home, 5-8 away and 3-0 in neutral sites. Five of eight road losses have come against Mountain West foes. SDSU will play at a neutral site for the rest of the season.
The Mountain West competition has also translated to multiple Mountain West players named as finalists for some of the top collegiate awards in college basketball:
• Two of the five finalists – Osobor and LeDee, in contention for the Karl Malone award. Rams guard Isaish Stevens is a finalist for the Bob Cousy award.
• The annual Karl Malone award and Bob Cousy award goes to the best performing collegiate power forward and point guard, respectively.
• LeDee, the Mountain West leading scorer, (20.5 ppg) is also one of 15 finalists for the John Wooden award, an annual award for the most outstanding college basketball player.
The Mountain West tournament is set to begin on Wednesday, March 13th in Las Vegas, Nevada with an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament at stake.
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