A look at each Mountain West basketball team ahead of 2016-17 season
Here’s a team-by-team look at the Mountain West this basketball season.
1. SAN DIEGO STATE
— Last season: 28-10, 16-2 MW
— Coach: Steve Fisher, 18th season (367-195)
— Returning starters/lettermen: 3/8
— Top returning scorer: Trey Kell (12.6)
— Top returning rebounder: Zylan Cheatham (5.4)
— Key losses: Winston Shepard (11.3 points, 6.4 rebounds), Skylar Spencer (3.8 points, 5.6 rebounds)
— Top newcomers: Montaque Gill-Caesar, Devin Watson, Valentine Izundu, Jalen McDaniels, Max Hoetzel
— Notable nonconference games: at Gonzaga, Nov. 14; vs. California in Sacramento, California, Nov. 21; at Grand Canyon, Dec. 7; vs.Arizona State, Dec. 10
— Season outlook: As is always the case with San Diego State, anything short of making the NCAA Tournament is unacceptable. The Aztecs watched their six-year streak of making the NCAAs end last season when they were defeated by Fresno State in the Mountain West tournament final. A shaky nonconference helped deny the Aztecs an at-large bid. San Diego State, which won the conference regular-season title, reached the semifinals of the National Invitation Tournament. The Aztecs certainly have the ability to not only make the NCAA Tournament this season, but to advance.
— Coachspeak: “Hopefully, we will remember history and make sure we don’t repeat it and know the importance of every game, not just big games. We won’t have to talk about it a lot, and hopefully we will circle teams that we play this year that beat us last year and circle them again and say, ‘We’re not going to let that happen.’” — Fisher
2. UNR
— Last season: 24-14, 10-8 MW
— Coach: Eric Musselman, second season (24-14)
— Returning starters/lettermen: 4/5
— Top returning scorer: D.J. Fenner (13.7)
— Top returning rebounder: Cameron Oliver (9.1)
— Key losses: Marqueze Coleman (15.1 points, 4.3 rebounds), Tyron Criswell (13.3 points, 6.2 rebounds), Eric Cooper Jr. (9.3 points)
— Top newcomers: Devearl Ramsey, Josh Hall, Leland King II, Jordan Caroline
— Notable nonconference games: at Saint Mary’s, Nov. 11; vs. Oregon State, Nov. 18; at Washington, Dec. 11; vs. UC Irvine, Dec. 14;vs. UC Santa Barbara in the South Point Holiday Hoops Classic in Las Vegas, Dec. 22
— Season outlook: Winning the College Basketball Invitational last season energized the program and Wolf Pack fans, but UNR has its sights set considerably higher. The Wolf Pack have the team that can challenge San Diego State for the league title, and they are capable of making the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2007, the last of a four-year run for the school. UNR, which is mixing veterans with key newcomers, will get a good sense early of where it stands by facing Saint Mary’s and Oregon State in two of its first three games.
— Coachspeak: “I think because the three sit-out guys practiced every day last year, it’s not like they’re three new guys. But we do have to create roles for guys that we think are going to play major minutes. So with the three sit-out guys and our two freshmen, we’ve got five guys that could be a part of a rotation that are new. That’s going to be a work in progress.” — Musselman
3. NEW MEXICO
— Last season: 17-15, 10-8 MW
— Coach: Craig Neal, fourth season (59-38)
— Returning starters/lettermen: 4/10
— Top returning scorer: Guard Elijah Brown (21.7)
— Top returning rebounder: Forward Tim Williams (7.4)
— Key losses: Cullen Neal (12.3 points)
— Top newcomers: Jalen Harris, Damien Jefferson, Aher Uguak, Connor MacDougall
— Notable nonconference games: Wooden Legacy Classic in Fullerton and Anaheim, California, Nov. 24-27; at Arizona, Dec. 20
— Season outlook: The Lobos have the team to compete for the Mountain West title and reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014. New Mexico will have a tough time getting past San Diego State and UNR, but if the Lobos can at least be in the hunt and make the National Invitation Tournament, that will be something on which the program can build. Not that New Mexico fans want to hear that, but it’s reality.
— Coachspeak: “I think it can be (an NCAA Tournament team). I think it can be really, really good. We can be really, really potent offensively. They’ve just got to learn how to guard. If they can do that and not turn it over as much … we’ve got to have more of a consistent performance. You can’t got to San Diego State and get beat on a heartbreak deal, and then you go to Utah State and don’t play well.” — Neal
4. FRESNO STATE
— Last season: 25-10, 13-5 MW
— Coach: Rodney Terry, sixth season (85-84)
— Returning starters/lettermen: 3/6
— Top returning scorer: Forward Karachi Edo (10.1)
— Top returning rebounder: Edo (6.3)
— Key losses: Marvelle Harris (20.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists)
— Top newcomers: Deshon Taylor, Jaron Hopkins, Williams McDowell-White
— Notable nonconference games: at Oregon State, Nov. 25; at Marquette, Dec. 6; at Oregon, Dec. 20
— Season outlook: Now that Fresno State has proven it can win the conference tournament and represent the Mountain West in the NCAA Tournament, the Bulldogs will have more of a target on them. But it doesn’t mean falling short would be a disappointment, or that it should be. Last season’s trip was the first for the Bulldogs in 15 years, so it’s not an annual expectation. Making a postseason tournament of some sort will be a positive step, especially after losing Harris, last season’s conference Player of the Year.
— Coachspeak: “We talk about last year’s team as that team. This is a new team with a new identity. I like this team. I like the blend of talent that we have. We’ve got good young guys, and we’ve got good experience in the frontcourt.” — Terry
5. BOISE STATE
— Last season: 20-12, 11-7 MW
— Coach: Leon Rice, seventh season (122-75)
— Returning starters/lettermen: 1/5
— Top returning scorer: Forward Nick Duncan (11.6)
— Top returning rebounder: Duncan (4.2)
— Key losses: James Webb III (15.8 points, 9.1 rebounds), Anthony Drmic (13.4 points, 4.4 rebounds), Mikey Thompson (11.9 points, 3.8 assists)
— Top newcomers: James Reid, Malek Harwell, Cameron Oluyitan
— Notable nonconference games: at Oregon, Nov. 28; Southern Methodist, Nov. 30; at Evansville, Dec. 3
— Season outlook: Boise State has made reaching 20 victories a nearly annual accomplishment under Rice, having hit that mark the past four seasons and five of the last six. Getting there won’t be so easy this season with one returning starter and some key losses, including Webb. Boise State will have to fight to finish in the upper half of the conference.
— Coachspeak: “It’s one of the best groups I’ve ever been around. Our teams are kind of known for the way we move the ball, and this team does it better than any team we’ve had. Part of that, too, is the way they score is different from the way some of the previous teams have scored. They don’t bounce it as much, and so the ball moves better. I think that’s what our identity will be.” — Rice
6. UTAH STATE
— Last season: 16-15, 7-11 MW
— Coach: Tim Duryea, second season (16-15)
— Returning starters/lettermen: 3/4
— Top returning scorer: Wing Jalen Moore (15.2)
— Top returning rebounder: Moore (6.0)
— Key losses: Chris Smith (15.0 points, 5.3 rebounds), Lew Evans (8.4 points, 5.6 rebounds)
— Top newcomers: Koby McEwen, Sam Merrill, Abel Porter
— Notable nonconference games: at UC Irvine, Nov. 11; vs. Purdue in the Cancun Challenge, Nov. 22; vs. Auburn or Texas Tech in the Cancun Challenge, Nov. 23; vs. Brigham Young at Salt Lake City, Nov. 30
— Season outlook: The Aggies will have the challenge of incorporating so many new players. They should finish around .500 again unless the new guys play above expectations. Moore will have to continue to play at a high level, and the switch from post to small forward could free him up to put up bigger numbers. He gave the NBA a look during the offseason, and Moore’s return is a major boost for Utah State.
— Coachspeak: “I like the makeup of the team. They’re a competitive group. They love to play. They’ve got a high motor collectively. Usually, groups like that get better, and obviously we need to. We have 10 new faces, and yet the returners we have … all very solid players, all contributors last year. So that gives me a pretty good base of kids to lead by example, to lead vocally.” — Duryea
7. COLORADO STATE
— Last season: 18-16, 8-10 MW
— Coach: Larry Eustachy, fifth season (87-48)
— Returning starters/lettermen: 2/5
— Top returning scorer: Guard Gian Clavell (20.8)
— Top returning rebounder: Forward Emmanuel Omogbo (8.0)
— Key losses: Antwan Scott (16.4 points, 4.3 rebounds), John Gillon (13.2 points, 3.8 assists), Joe De Ciman (10.3 points, 5.2 rebounds), Tiel Daniels (9.4 points, 7.6 rebounds)
— Top newcomers: Che Bob, Anthony Bonner, Nico Carvacho
— Notable nonconference games: at Stanford, Nov. 20; at Colorado, Nov. 30; vs. Wichita State, Dec. 3; at Kansas State, Dec. 17; at Long Beach State, Dec. 22
— Season outlook: Getting back Clavell is huge. He was granted an extra season of eligibility by the NCAA. Clavell was averaging 20.8 points and 6.9 rebounds when he broke his left hand 10 games into last season. But this is an inexperienced team that will be fortunate to finish in the top half of the conference. Eustachy, however, is really good at getting the most from his talent, so the Rams won’t be an easy out for most opponents.
— Coachspeak: “I’m not sure how we’ll do early. I wrote down eight different lineups the other day. We can be really long, and we can be really small. We can be in between. Some think scoring is going to be a problem for us, and I don’t think it is. We’ve got some guys that can score.” — Eustachy
8. UNLV
— Last season: 18-15, 8-10 MW
— Coach: Marvin Menzies, first season
— Returning starters/lettermen: 1/3
— Top returning scorer: Forward Dwayne Morgan (5.5)
— Top returning rebounder: Morgan (4.7)
— Key losses: Patrick McCaw (14.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists), Derrick Jones Jr. (11.5 points, 4.5 rebounds), Ike Nwamu (11.4 points), Stephen Zimmerman Jr. (10.5 points, 8.7 rebounds), Jerome Seagears (10.3 points), Ben Carter (8.6 points, 6.0 rebounds)
— Top newcomers: Kris Clyburn, Uche Ofoegbu, Cheickna Dembele, Christian Jones, Jovan Mooring, Troy Baxter Jr.
— Notable nonconference games: at Arizona State, Dec. 3; vs. Duke at T-Mobile Arena, Dec. 10; vs. Oregon in Portland, Oregon, Dec. 17; vs. Kansas, Dec. 22
— Season outlook: UNLV fans are accustomed to heading into seasons thinking about making the NCAA Tournament and even making a deep run. This isn’t one of those seasons.
The Rebels return three players, and three others who were on last season’s roster now are in the NBA. Menzies has quite a rebuilding process on his hands, and he will need time to try to make UNLV the contender fans would like to see.
— Coachspeak: “Our best teams will probably be in the future, but who knows? This team could surprise some people. We’ll see. We’ll work our tails off. I haven’t scouted the other teams yet, so it’s real hard to tell how good we’ll do right now, but I know the puzzle that we’ve had to deal with, and I think we’ve put it together in a way that’s appealing right now.” — Menzies
9. AIR FORCE
— Last season: 14-18, 5-13 MW
— Coach: Dave Pilipovich, fifth season (60-73)
— Returning starters/lettermen: 5/13
— Top returning scorer: Forward Hayden Graham (13.8)
— Top returning rebounder: Graham (6.3)
— Key losses: Zach Moer (8.6 points, 4.0 rebounds)
— Top newcomers: Ryan Swan-Ford, Lavelle Scottie
— Notable nonconference games: at New Mexico State, Nov. 30; vs. Colorado, Dec. 19
— Season outlook: Air Force was picked to finish near the bottom in the league, but don’t be surprised if the Falcons prove to be a true pain for league opponents. It’s an experienced team that returns all five starters, and the Falcons improved as last season went along, going 4-2 to open February and ending with a triple-overtime loss to UNLV in the conference tournament.
— Coachspeak: “We’ve got to build on what we finished last year. We have been good the last couple of years in February. We haven’t been very good in January. I don’t know why.” — Pilipovich
10. WYOMING
— Last season: 14-18, 7-11 MW
— Coach: Allen Edwards, first season
— Returning starters/lettermen: 4/9
— Top returning scorer: Guard Jason McManamen (14.4)
— Top returning rebounder: Forward Alan Herndon (4.8)
— Key losses: Josh Adams (24.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists)
— Top newcomers: Austin Mueller, Louis Adams
— Notable nonconference games: at California, Nov. 25; vs. Northern Iowa, Dec. 3; vs. Southern California or Missouri in the Las Vegas Classic, Dec. 23
— Season outlook: Only one starter is gone, but he’s a big one. Adams was voted by the media as the conference Player of the Year last season. The Cowboys have a sharpshooter in McManamen, who made 44 percent of his 3-point shots last season, but this looks like a rebuilding year for Edwards. He will need to up the talent level in future recruiting classes for the Cowboys to compete in the Mountain West.
— Coachspeak: “It was a very easy transition. I only say that because you hear the other side of the story when you go into a new situation and you have to build trust. You have to deal with the possibility of guys wanting to leave and transfer and all these other things. And also the lay of the land. I feel like all of that stuff was already in place. When I took over, the guys that were on the team were all in.” — Edwards
11. SAN JOSE STATE
— Last season: 9-22, 4-14 MW
— Coach: Dave Wojcik, fourth season (18-74, 5-49 MW)
— Returning starters/lettermen: 4/7
— Top returning scorer: Forward Ryan Welage (10.4)
— Top returning rebounder: Forward Brandon Clarke (5.6)
— Key losses: Frank Rogers (11.9 points, 7.1 rebounds), Princeton Onwas (10.5 points)
— Top newcomers: Keith Fisher, Isaiah Nichols, Nai Carlisle
— Notable nonconference games: at Saint Mary’s, Nov. 22; at Montana, Dec. 7
— Season outlook: The Spartans made progress last season, winning seven more games than the previous year. So maybe San Jose State will be more of a challenge for Mountain West opponents, though the media didn’t agree, picking the Spartans last. San Jose State is tough to recruit to, but Wojcik has a plan he has followed to make the program more competitive.
Maybe he will see more progress this season, but don’t count on the Spartans to be contenders.
— Coachspeak: “I could care less about (the preseason ranking) because at the end of the day, you all have no idea about my team, the pulse of my team or the heart of my team. I don’t talk to my guys about it. We just worry about getting better and worry about our opening game on Nov. 12 (against West Coast Baptist) and move on from there.” — Wojcik
