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Mountain West Conference Basketball Weekly Recap
Scores
Tuesday, January 17
Colorado State 66, Boise State 55
Wednesday, January 18
San Diego State 75, New Mexico 70
UNLV 101, TCU 78
Wyoming 64, Air Force 53
Saturday, January 21
San Diego State 57, Air Force 44
UNLV 80, New Mexico 63
TCU 54, Boise State 52
Wyoming 70, Colorado State 51
The Mountain West Conference, based on early returns - most if not all league teams have played only three conference games so far - is proving that the New Mexico Lobos have a long way to go before they can make their NCAA Tournament reservations. The way things are shaping up, New Mexico is going to be the foremost bubble team for this league when Selection Sunday rolls around.> Browse a great selection of Air Force Falcons apparel right here on MWC-Fans.com!
The outlook had been so good for coach Steve Alford's club. New Mexico won at home against a tough Saint Louis team in late December. "Los Lobos" were 15-2 a week ago, but now, the landscape has changed for them. New Mexico lost at home in Albuquerque to San Diego State, making this past Saturday's journey to Las Vegas that much more important. UNM needed to get a win at UNLV to shore up its sense of self while also racking up a quality win and improving its place in the Mountain West standings. Instead, New Mexico got thumped by the Runnin' Rebels, who - like San Diego State - are building a very strong NCAA Tournament resume and do not appear to be headed for the bubble on the second Sunday of March. No, while SDSU and UNLV are doing their best to become NCAA Tournament locks, New Mexico is rapidly losing ground, and that has to change in a heartbeat if the Lobos want NCAA riches this season.
The Rebels were sluggish out of the gate, but they picked up the pace in the second half, scoring 26 points off New Mexico's 11 turnovers and looking for fast-break opportunities at every turn. New Mexico did not get back on defense in transition, and the template for a second-half rout had been established. UNLV finished with 26 fast-break points, pressing the lead as high as 20 points in a game that unraveled for the Lobos after halftime.
New Mexico had an awful week, while San Diego State and UNLV put together terrific weeks. Wyoming - looking for an NIT bid - won two games, including an "NIT bubble" win over Colorado State. So many Mountain West teams have reason to smile. New Mexico is the conspicuous exception at this point in time.
By: Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer