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5 questions entering the Mountain West

College basketball season is almost here!

Between now and Nov. 6th, we’ll take an in-depth look at different conferences around the country.

Today’s focus is on the Mountain West:

1. Can the Mountain West get four teams in the NCAA Tournament for a third consecutive season?
It seems like a stretch as of today, but it also probably felt like a stretch prior to each of the past two seasons. The bottom line is this: If the Mountain West can move the needle in November and December during non-conference play, it will give itself an opportunity to have quality representation on Selection Sunday. Four teams from this league were ranked in the Top 48 of the final NET rankings after last season and five were ranked in the Top 64. As usual, the first two months of the season will determine how high the ceiling is for the Mountain West during March Madness. 

2. What can San Diego State do for an encore?
That’s a hard thing to answer after the Aztecs advanced all the way to the national title game and had the best season in program history. San Diego State returns four of its top six scorers — Darrion Trammell, Lamont Butler, Jaedon LeDee, and Micah Parrish — from last season’s team and also adds a starter in USC transfer Reese Dixon-Waters (7.1 points), who was the Pac-12 Sixth Man of the Year in 2022-23. What does it all mean? The Aztecs may not have what they had last season after losing both Matt Bradley and Nathan Mensah, but they still have enough to be the best team in the Mountain West. That will be enough to earn a quality seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

3. Will New Mexico return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014?
It’s very possible. Guard play is the ultimate key in college basketball and Richard Pitino returns a pair of guards — Jaelen House (16.9 points, 4.7 assists, 3.9 rebounds) and Jamal Mashburn Jr. (19.1 points) — who are both good enough to be the Mountain West Player of the Year. Sophomore Donovan Dent and freshman top-100 freshman Tru Washington are also expected to play a significant role on the perimeter. Pitino also added reinforcements up front via the transfer portal in Mustapha Amzil (Dayton) and Nelly Junior Joseph (Iona). The Lobos were 19-3 last season through 22 games before finishing 3-9 down the stretch. With another year of experience, New Mexico should flirt with 25 wins and an NCAA Tournament berth in 2024. 

4. Can UNLV return to national relevance?
TBD. The Runnin Rebels haven’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 2013 and have only had two 20-win seasons in the last decade. Kevin Kruger led UNLV to a 10-0 start last season before finishing 19-13 and seventh in the Mountain West. Is a jump in the cards for 2023-24? Possibly. Five-star freshman Dedan Thomas adds an element that this program hasn’t had the past few years and both Kalib Boone (Oklahoma State) and Jalen Hill (Oklahoma) are impactful additions via the transfer portal. Luis Rodriguez (10.7 points, 5.7 rebounds) is also back and boasts all-conference caliber ability. We’ll know a lot about this team early as UNLV plays Saint Mary’s (Phoenix) and Creighton (Las Vegas) in neutral site games in addition to an MTE in Daytona Beach along with Colorado, Florida State, and Richmond.

5. Who is the sleeper?
Colorado State. Last season’s 15-18 mark was a blip for the Rams after Niko Medved previously posted three consecutive campaigns with at least 20 wins or more. Expect a bounce back year in 2023-24. Why? More resources. Do-everything guard Isaiah Stevens (17.9 points, 6.7 assists, 3.4 rebounds) is back after missing the first month of last season due to injury and the Rams’ staff is also expecting big things from former Illinois State guard Josiah Strong, who missed last year due to illness. Those two players along with the returns of two guys — Jalen Lake and Patrick Cartier — who averaged 22 minutes or more last season should give Medved a solid foundation. Add a pair of transfers — Nique Clifford (Colorado) and Javonte Johnson (New Mexico) — with bonafide seasoning and you’ve got a team that could be in the mix at the top of the Mountain West.

Leftovers