Mountain West Preview 2021

Our Mountain West basketball preview 2021 - 2022 projects the top two teams in this conference to be the Colorado State Rams and San Diego State Aztecs. In fact, we expect that a minimum of two MWC teams will be bound for the event known as March Madness. However, three conference programs could qualify for the 2022 NCAA Tournament. The Nevada Wolfpack does look promising, and the Boise State Broncos bring some fine talent into this season. Here’s how we see the Mountain West Conference.

Mountain West Basketball Preview and Projections

1. Colorado State Rams (20-8, 14-4)

After finishing third in the league last season, Colorado State lost to Utah State in the Mountain West Tournament Semifinals. The result was they missed an NCAA Tournament berth. The team returns all of the major players from last season, which means coach Niko Medved has a prime opportunity to take down the conference and the tournament title, securing an NCAA bid. Versatile David Roddy (15.9 PPG, 9.4 RPG) is a double-double threat. Also upfront, senior forward Adam Thistlewood (9.1 PPG, 3.1 RPG) is a fine inside-outside shooter. Point guard Isaiah Stevens (15.3 PPG, 5.4 APG), a 42.7 percent three-point shooter, is a premium talent. Also, in the backcourt, Kendle Moore brings 90 starts to the court and 10.5 PPG. There are other premium players, including transfers, who make for a deep team. A solid 91.1 percent of scoring from last season is back.

AP Top 25 Preseason Poll Ranking: None
NCAA Men's Basketball NET Ranking: 63
Postseason Tournament: NCAA Round of 32

2. San Diego State Aztecs (23-5, 14-3)

Last season, the Aztecs finished first in the MWC. This year our Mountain West basketball preview 2021 - 2022 projects them to be once again exceptionally competitive. Coach Brian Dutcher loses last season’s MWC Player of the Year, Matt Mitchell. Mitchell was a massive inside force. Two guards with fine scoring chops have also left. California transfer Matt Bradley (18.0 PPG), the third-leading scorer in the Pac-12, joins the Aztecs. Three other transfers fill out the roster. San Diego, which boasts of a top—25 defense, is led by 6’10,” senior forward Nathan Mensah. Mensah was third in the conference in blocks and shot a team-best 57.9 percent from the floor. Guard Trey Pulliam amassed 39 steals last season while recording 7.3 PPG and 3.5 APG. This is a fine team.

AP Top 25 Preseason Poll Ranking: None
NCAA Men's Basketball NET Ranking: 26
Postseason Tournament: NCAA Round of 64

3. Nevada Wolfpack (16-10, 10-7)

Last year, the Wolfpack finished fifth in the conference. We project they will move up this season. Coach Steve Alford has one of the nation’s best backcourts. Senior shooting guard Desmond Cambridge Jr. (16.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG) and junior point guard Grant Sherfield (18.6 PPG, 6.1 APG) lead the way. In front, Kwame’ Hymes Jr. offers a 52.2 percent two-point success rate and fine D. Last season, Hymes blocked 24 shots. Last year, true freshman Tre’ Coleman started 22 games, hitting threes at the rate of 36.1 percent while averaging 5.5 PPG and 3.0 RPG. There’s depth on-hand. This team is a major dark horse.

AP Top 25 Preseason Poll Ranking: None
NCAA Men's Basketball NET Ranking: 101
Postseason Tournament: NCAA First Round

4. Boise State Broncos (19-9, 14-6)

Our Mountain West basketball preview 2021 - 2022 notes that the last time the Broncos made the NCAA was 2015. They have a bunch of solid transfers who could help Boise State, led by coach Leon Rice, get back to the Big Dance. Guard Derrick Alston (17.1 PPG, 3.7 RPG), one of the best players in the Mountain West, is gone. However, senior guard Marcus Shaver Jr. (10.6 PPG, 4.6 RPG) will be given a bigger role, as will Emmanuel Akot (9.1 PPG, 3.6 RPG), a constant double-digit scoring threat. The front includes forwards Mladen Armus and Naje Smith and center Lukas Milner. It’s a sound group. The big question regarding this team is depth, which is lacking.

AP Top 25 Preseason Poll Ranking: None
NCAA Men's Basketball NET Ranking: 53
Postseason Tournament: NIT

5. Utah State Aggies (20-9, 15-4)

Former UMBC head coach Ryan Odom replaces Craig Smith and a new era begins for the Aggies. Last year, Utah State finished second in the MWC. But this is a season that will be defined by transition and rebuilding. Star center Neemias Queta, a constant double-double threat, left for the NBA. Plus, three other key players are gone. UMBC double-digit scorers guard R.J. Eytle-Rock and forward Brandon Horvath followed Odom to Utah State. Junior guard Ryan Jones, a transfer from Utah, should be another impact player. Senior forward Justin Bean (11.4 PPG, 7.7 RPG) is the team’s top returning point maker. There’s some talent here and Odom is the right man for the job. However, it will take a few seasons to make the Aggies competitive again.

AP Top 25 Preseason Poll Ranking: None
NCAA Men's Basketball NET Ranking: 47
Postseason Tournament: None

6. Fresno State Bulldogs (12-12, 9-11)

Head coach Justin Hutson returns for his fourth season. Our Mountain West basketball preview 2021 - 2022 notes that then top five scorers from last season come back. Plus, one of the better transfers to the league, guard Jemari Baker (12.0 PPG), arrives. Consequently, seven-foot forward/center Orlando Robinson (14.6 PPG, 9.2 RPG) will help form one of the better inside-outside duos with Baker. Dean Stroud and Isaiah Hill are both double-digit point makers. Fresno State has some fine talent, but the bench is thin.

AP Top 25 Preseason Poll Ranking: None
NCAA Men's Basketball NET Ranking: 199
Postseason Tournament: None

7. UNLV Runnin’ Rebels (12-15, 8-10)

Kevin Kruger, UNLV’s fourth coach in eight years, arrives in an attempt to get this team back to the NCAA Tournament. Our Mountain West basketball preview 2021 - 2022 observes that the Runnin’ Rebels have not been to the Big Dance since 2013. Kruger utilized the transfer portal to bring in eight new players. Plus, the new coach convinced All-MWC guard Bryce Hamilton (17.9 PPG) to not leave. Hamilton will be joined by premium Kent State transfer guard Mike Nuga (17.8 PPG). Nuga is a 50.0 percent field-goal shooter. Four Big 12 players arrive. Still, the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels have an uphill battle that will take more than one season to win.

AP Top 25 Preseason Poll Ranking: None
NCAA Men's Basketball NET Ranking: 189
Postseason Tournament: None

8. Wyoming Cowboys (14-11, 7-9)

Last season, his first at Wyoming, head coach Jeff Linder saw the Cowboys improve on their 2019-20 mark of 9-24 overall and 2-16 in conference. In total, Wyoming won five more games and more than tripled their MWC wins. Linder had the team play an up-tempo game, improving their offensive contributions, as they increased the number of three-point shots they took and overall improved their shooting percentages. The loss of freshman star shooting guard Marcus Williams (14.8 PPG, 4.3 APG) hurts. However, Hunter Maldonado (12.5 PPG) and Graham Ike (11.2 PPG) return. Additionally, two other players come back, each of whom averaged more than nine points per game. There is scoring. Unfortunately, as it was last season, the defense looks problematic, especially in the paint and around the rim.

AP Top 25 Preseason Poll Ranking: None
NCAA Men's Basketball NET Ranking: 163
Postseason Tournament: None

9. New Mexico Lobos (6-16, 2-15)

After another bad season for the Lobos, four-year head coach Paul Weir is gone. Former Minnesota helmsman Richard Pitino takes over. Our Mountain West basketball preview 2021 - 2022 notes that Pitino has been trying to utilize the transfer portal in a major way. Minnesota transfer Jamal Mashburn Jr. (8.2 PPG) followed the new coach to New Mexico. That’s Pitino’s biggest achievement thus far. Other incoming players include Jaelen House (Arizona State), Gethro Muscadin (Kansas), and Taryn Todd (TCU). Saquan Singleton (8.0 PPG), Valdir Manuel (7.9 PPG), and Jeremiah Francis (6.4 PPG) are New Mexico’s top returning scorers.

AP Top 25 Preseason Poll Ranking: None
NCAA Men's Basketball NET Ranking: 303
Postseason Tournament: None

10. San Jose State Spartans (5-16, 3-13)

Coach Tim Miles, formerly with Colorado State and Nebraska, comes in to lift the Spartan program out of the MWC’s lower depths. Unfortunately, the team’s two best players, Richard Washington (19.5 PPG) and Ralph Agee (11.1 PPG), are gone. A rash of new players joins the team, including Eastern Kentucky’s Brandon Knapper (18.5 PPG). Junior college transfer Majok Kuath (12.7 PPG), a 61.3 percent shooter, has potential. Despite five additional Power Five transfers, a lot is up in the air.

AP Top 25 Preseason Poll Ranking: None
NCAA Men's Basketball NET Ranking: 333
Postseason Tournament: None

11. Air Force Falcons (5-20, 3-17)

The Falcons have not recorded a .500-plus season since 2007. One of the best point makers in the MWC, A.J. Walker (15.3 PPG), is back. Despite that, our Mountain West basketball preview 2021 - 2022 projects the Falcons to once again be a sub .500 team. After Walker, the ranks are exceptionally thin.

AP Top 25 Preseason Poll Ranking: None
NCAA Men's Basketball NET Ranking: 324
Postseason Tournament: None

Mountain West Basketball Preview 2021 – Final Thoughts

Colorado State, San Diego State, and Nevada all have a shot at the conference crown and the Big Dance. Plus, our Mountain West basketball preview 2021 - 2022 finds that Boise State comes into this season with a solid rotation. Unfortunately, depth is an issue. Finally, watch out for Utah State. They could surprise everyone, including us.