Mountain West Conference Basketball Update & Power Rankings

The Mountain West Conference revealed depth and strength between its top five teams in New Mexico, BYU, Utah, San Diego State and UNLV.

When the regular season closed on March 7, nothing was settled as the Lobos, Cougars and Utes finished in a tie for first place. San Diego State and UNLV also had 20-win seasons.

The conference tournament begins Wednesday in Las Vegas when Air Force and Colorado State meet in the 8-9 game. But let’s review what happened between January and now and look ahead to the tournament.

Player of the Year: Tony Danridge, New Mexico, G, Sr. It would have been easy to go with either Utah center Luke Nevill or BYU guard Lee Cummard. But consider what Danridge did this season. He scored in double figures in all but one conference game but put this team on his back in the final two weeks. During New Mexico’s 5-game winning streak to force the tie with BYU and Utah, Danridge averaged 20 points per game and scored 29 points in consecutive games against Utah and at Wyoming. That has to account for something. It’s about senior leadership. Danridge demonstrated that.

Coach of the Year: Jim Boylen, Utah. Boylen restored the proud basketball tradition of the program by guiding the Utes to a share of the conference championship. It could have been an outright title had it not been for consecutive losses to BYU and New Mexico. Still, the Utes are likely headed back to the NCAA tournament for the first time since the 2004-05 season.

Game of the Year: Utah 94, BYU 88 (OT), Jan, 27 in Salt Lake City. The Cougars led for most of the way before the Utes sent the game into overtime and eventually pulled away. Nevill scored a career-high 32 points for the Utes. BYU’s Cummard scored 23 points.

MWC Tournament Preview

Most Intriguing quarterfinal matchup: No. 4 San Diego State vs. No. 5 UNLV. The Aztecs swept the Rebels and meet again less than a week after the last meeting. This is likely a NCAA tournament bubble elimination game. The Rebels have used the Thomas & Mack Center to win the last two tournaments. But they are in a must-win scenario.

Team with the most to gain: New Mexico. The Lobos fought back from a tough non-conference season. Advancing to the conference finals probably locks them into the NCAA tournament. Give coach Steve Alford a lot of credit.

Team with the most to lose: UNLV. The Rebels cannot lose in the quarterfinals because three losses to San Diego State will outweigh their sweep of BYU, win over potential No. 1 seed Louisville and splits with Utah and New Mexico.

Difference maker in the tournament: Luke Nevill, Utah. The center has been extraordinary this season and has dominated games. He is poised to have a great tournament. There really isn’t anyone in the conference who can neutralize him.

Who wins the tournament: Utah. It’s a hunch, but you can sense the Utes are pretty disappointed by allowing the outright title slip away.

Power Rankings

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