Mountain West Conference Basketball Update & Power Rankings

There were years when Colorado State basketball had its presence in college basketball. When Boyd Grant and Stew Morrill were guiding the program, it was common to see the Rams either make the NCAA tournament or the NIT.

But these are the lean years and coach Tim Miles has definitely not enjoyed his last two seasons in Fort Collins.

After posting a 7-25 record for 2007-08, these Rams are not much better at 8-18 and 3-8. They do have a nice win over UNLV but they have struggled in most of their other games.

Each of the last six opponents – 12 for the season – have shot 50 percent or better this year. In the 89-79 overtime loss to Utah, the Utes were at 50 percent and scored 16 points in the extra period.

The stretch of five losses in the last six games has overshadowed Marcus Walker’s play. The senior has been in double figures in five consecutive games.

But the Rams still have some small things to play for this year. With games remaining against Air Force and Wyoming, they can still reach the psychological 10-win plateau. And should they win one or both, it gets them out of the 8-9 game in the MWC tournament.

Luke Nevill – Player of the Year

There will be those who will argue for UNLV’s Wink Adams or BYU’s Lee Cummard for conference player of the year.

However, Utah center Luke Nevill definitely has the inside track to win it. With the Utes leading the conference standings, the 7-2 senior from Australia has pretty much put the team on his back.

He has 10 double doubles this year including 23 and 14 this past Wednesday at Colorado State.

He is shooting tremendously at 61 percent from the field and 79 percent from the free throw line.

But Nevill and the Utes will find out over the next 10 days if he will earn that. The Utes play host to UNLV on Feb. 25 and travel to BYU on Feb. 28.

Notable

TCU snapped its six-game losing streak with 62-50 win over Air Force. The Horned Frogs finally matched their 2007-08 win total…Wyoming is one of the better home teams in the conference at 13-1. The only loss was to Utah and the Cowboys still have home games against BYU and New Mexico. They could have a role in who will win the regular season title. Senior guard Brandon Ewing has been held under double figures only twice this season.

Power Rankings

1. Utah
2. San Diego State
3. New Mexico
4. BYU
5. UNLV
6. TCU
7. Wyoming
8. Colorado State
9. Air Force