Despite a loss for San Diego State in Reno to start last week, the Aztecs (9-2 MW) still hold strong in sole possession of first place following a commanding 72-52 win over Boise State to start the weekend.
SDSU still has a pair of tough tests ahead this week, facing Utah State on the road Wednesday night before hosting a UNLV Runnin’ Rebels team that has been the most inconsistent team in the conference to date on Saturday.
Both Nevada and Utah State held their ground last week, going 2-0 and moving into a three-way tie for second place at 8-3 with Boise State. The Aggies might just be the hottest team in the conference, winning five out of their last six games with the lone loss coming at SDSU.
New Mexico sits close behind in fifth place, holding onto a 6-4 record in conference play with a chance to improve its record with a win over Nevada at The Pit on Tuesday.
As the regular season conference title race heats up, here’s a look around the Mountain West…
Must-watch games this week:
Tuesday Feb. 7 Nevada @ New Mexico (FS1, 8:30 p.m. MT)
Wednesday Feb. 8 San Diego State @ Utah State (CBS Sports Network, 8 p.m. MT)
Saturday Feb. 11 UNLV @ San Diego State (FOX, 2 p.m. MT)
Saturday Feb. 11 Utah State @ San Jose State (CBS Sports Network, 8 p.m. MT)
A look at the teams…
#25 San Diego State (18-5 | 9-2 MW | #23 NET | #22 KenPom)
Following a loss in Reno to the Wolf Pack, the Aztecs bounced back in big fashion. San Diego State took down Boise State in commanding fashion, defeating the Broncos 72-52 at Viejas Arena and taking back sole possession of first place in the Mountain West. The Aztecs don’t have much time to rest this week, facing second place Utah State at the Spectrum Wednesday evening before hosting the Runnin’ Rebels on Saturday in a rare conference afternoon game broadcasted on FOX.
Schedule this week:
Wednesday Feb. 8 @ Utah State (CBS Sports Network, 8 p.m. MT)
Saturday Feb. 11 vs. UNLV (FOX, 2 p.m. MT)
Utah State (19-5 | 8-3 MW | #32 NET | #40 KenPom)
The Aggies proved they were for real with a monumental 84-73 home win over New Mexico and followed with a win over Colorado State in which guard Steven Ashworth nailed in eight 3-pointers at Moby Arena. Utah State has another big home game looming against San Diego State on Wednesday with a chance to gain a share of first place in the conference with a win over the Aztecs. The Aggies have emerged as a true contender to win the Mountain West.
Schedule this week:
Wednesday Feb. 8 vs. San Diego State (CBS Sports Network, 8 p.m. MT)
Saturday Feb. 11 @ San Jose State (CBS Sports Network, 8 p.m. MT)
Boise State (18-6 | 8-3 MW | #27 NET | #31 KenPom)
Without Marcus Shaver Jr. in Boise State’s loss to San Diego State, the Broncos looked like a completely different team. There wasn’t much, if any flow throughout the game against the Aztecs. With a banged up Naje Smith combined with Tyson Degenhart in foul trouble early, it was a recipe for disaster at Viejas Arena. Nonetheless, the Broncos still share second place at 8-3 with Utah State and Nevada and have a short break before hosting Wyoming Saturday night. Danger beware: The Cowboys will enter ExtraMile Arena as a Quadrant four game in the NET for Boise State.
Schedule this week:
Saturday Feb. 11 vs. Wyoming (CBS Sports Network, 6 p.m. MT)
Nevada (18-6 | 8-3 MW | #34 NET | #42 KenPom)
With games against San Diego State and Air Force last week, Nevada had an opportunity to prove its worth of winning this conference. The Wolf Pack did just that, taking down the first place Aztecs 75-66 at Lawlor Events Center in a statement victory. Guard Jarod Lucas showed out in the win with 26 points on 9-14 shooting from the field. The road doesn’t get easier ahead for the Wolf Pack, facing New Mexico Tuesday night at The Pit in one of the top Mountain West matchups of the week.
Schedule this week:
Tuesday Feb. 7 @ New Mexico (FS1, 8:30 p.m. MT)
Friday Feb. 10 vs. Fresno State (FS1, 9 p.m. MT)
New Mexico (19-4 | 6-4 MW | #37 NET | #46 KenPom)
Given that the Lobos are the only team to take down SDSU at Viejas Arena so far this season, I’m hesitant in saying that New Mexico’s kryptonite is winning on the road. However, road losses have been the difference for New Mexico in the conference standings from the rest of who’s currently above the Lobos. An early-season conference loss at Fresno State has been the difference thus far, but a win for New Mexico against Nevada at The Pit on Tuesday could make sitting in fifth place a distant memory for Lobo fans.
Schedule this week:
Tuesday Feb. 7 vs. Nevada (FS1, 8:30 p.m. MT)
Friday Feb. 10 @ Air Force (FS1, 7 p.m. MT)
San Jose State (14-9 | 5-5 MW | #104 NET | #106 KenPom)
I think many would have called themselves crazy to think that San Jose State would be .500 in conference play at this point of the season. The Spartans have really turned their program around for the better. Shooting guard Omari Moore has started February good as ever, scoring 29 points and dishing out six assists to pair with his two steals against Wyoming last week. San Jose State travels to Fresno tomorrow night to face the Bulldogs before hosting Utah State on Saturday with a chance to play spoiler and move the Aggies down in the standings.
Schedule this week:
Tuesday Feb. 7 @ Fresno State (Mountain West Network, 8 p.m. MT)
Saturday Feb. 11 vs. San Jose State (CBS Sports Network, 8 p.m. MT)
UNLV (15-8 | 4-7 MW | #82 NET | #82 KenPom)
The Runnin’ Rebels have continued to be the most confusing team in the conference this season. Last Friday, UNLV dropped a game to Fresno State in a game that the Rebels opened as double-digit favorites to win. A team that once started the season 10-0 is now 5-8 in its last 13 games with wins against good teams such as New Mexico and Nevada. UNLV isn’t much of a contender to win the regular season conference title, but the Runnin’ Rebels could be a scary opponent to face come the conference tournament.
Schedule this week:
Wednesday Feb. 8 @ Wyoming (FS1, 8:30 p.m. MT)
Saturday Feb. 11 @ San Diego State (FOX, 2 p.m. MT)
Fresno State (8-14 | 4-7 MW | #184 NET | #167 KenPom)
The Bulldogs tallied their second win against UNLV of the season last week, securing the season sweep over UNLV and essentially kicking the Runnin’ Rebels out of contention for the regular season conference title. Fresno State has a great defense and when combined with the same offense that scored 82 points at the Thomas & Mack Center over UNLV, the Bulldogs are a scary team to face when needing a win. Fresno State is a team that could burst some tournament bubbles down the stretch.
Schedule this week:
Tuesday Feb. 7 vs. San Jose State (Mountain West Network, 8 p.m. MT)
Friday Feb. 10 @ Nevada (FS1, 9 p.m. MT)
Air Force (12-12 | 3-8 MW | #157 NET | #160 KenPom)
The Falcons are still competing at a much higher level in Mountain West play than in comparison to previous years. Despite only tallying wins against three teams in the bottom third of the standings, Air Force has come close to beating three very good teams in New Mexico, Boise State and Nevada. The future is bright in Colorado Springs with Jake Heidbrder and freshman star Rytis Petraitis leading the charge. The Falcons also have a chance to knock off New Mexico on Friday, hosting the Lobos at Clune Arena.
Schedule this week:
Tuesday Feb. 7 vs. Colorado State (Mountain West Network, 7 p.m. MT)
Friday Feb. 10 vs. New Mexico (FS1, 7 p.m. MT)
Wyoming (7-15 | 2-8 MW | #197 NET | #164 KenPom)
News broke this week that the Cowboys will not see Graham Ike return to the floor this season. With that being said, what we’ve seen from Wyoming up to this point is just about what teams are going to expect down the stretch. A team that once was picked second to win the conference in the preseason has been riddled with injuries all year, making the Cowboys unable to gain any traction or consistency. Coach Jeff Linder will return to his former employer in the Treasure Valley over the weekend with hopes of delivering a Quadrant four loss in the NET to the Broncos.
Schedule this week:
Wednesday Feb. 8 vs. UNLV (FS1, 8:30 p.m. MT)
Saturday Feb. 11 @ Boise State (CBS Sports Network, 6 p.m. MT)
Colorado State (10-14 | 2-9 MW | #132 NET | #125 KenPom)
Colorado State, while still being a very competitive team, has dealt with major struggles in the 2022-23 season following the departure of David Roddy to the NBA. The Rams have lost five in a row and the wheels seem to be coming off of the tracks as we approach the final stretch of the season. Colorado State will head to Air Force to face the Falcons in a rivalry game at Clune Arena before having the weekend off for a break to end the week.
Schedule this week:
Tuesday Feb. 7 @ Air Force (Mountain West Network, 7 p.m. MT)