Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

REBELS BASKETBALL:

Mountain West: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

A glance at each team as the league schedule begins

UNLV in 2008

Alex Adeyanju and Rob Miech discuss the year that was for UNLV Men's basketball and look forward to 2009.

It’s a great time of the year, UNLV coach Lon Kruger said after Friday’s practice at the Thomas & Mack Center.

No, he wasn’t talking about Christmas or New Year’s Eve, although that Wednesday victory at Louisville certainly gave Rebels fans added incentive to celebrate.

The Mountain West Conference schedule begins today, when UNLV (12-2) plays host to New Mexico (9-5) at 7:30 p.m.

“Obviously, it’s an exciting time,” Kruger said. “I think the league has shown to be very balanced. There are a lot of good teams. It should be a good race.”

With that in mind, and that unforgettable theme song from “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” still ringing in our ears from the Arizona game, let’s take a closer look at the Mountain West.

We have digested the facts and figures, and this is how we see the conference, in order of how it will finish. We’ve included each team’s record and Ratings Percentage Index.

Cue Ennio Morricone’s epic opening musical arrangement from that classic 1966 spaghetti Western now:

1. UNLV (12-2, 54)

Good

With the cool hands of freshman point guard Oscar Bellfield leading the way, the Rebels once again top the league with a +4.92 turnover margin.

Bad

Senior guard Wink Adams, who injured an abdominal muscle Dec. 23, returns tonight but will be closely monitored. They won at Louisville without him, but they need him for sustained success.

Ugly

It’s been pounded on the glass. In spite of that, it’s been winning. Eventually, though –- say, by mid-March –- that will need to be remedied.

2. San Diego State (10-3, 43)

Good

The Aztecs are holding foes to a league-low 56 points. Someone is finally doing that better than Air Force.

Bad

Only senior Kyle Spain, sixth at 16.2 points a game, is among the MWC’s top 20 in scoring.

Ugly

That 93-61 victory Monday over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, which ended a season-opening 11-game road trip at 1-10. The Golden Lions’ average margin of defeat was 31 points.

3. BYU (11-1, 15)

Good

Senior forward Lee Cummard is the lone league player among its top 10 in scoring, rebounding, shooting, free-throw accuracy and assists-to-turnovers ratio.

Bad

Without Trent Plaisted, who bolted early and is playing in Europe, the Cougars can be beaten to boards under their own glass.

Ugly

That schedule strength is rated 186th in the nation. If the Cougars aren’t careful, the rival Utes will finish above them.

4. Utah (8-5, 52)

Good

Luke Nevill, the 7-foot-1 Aussie, is the league’s most dominant big man. He is fourth in scoring (16.9 points a game) and second in rebounding (8.3).

Bad

Utah has the worst 3-point defense in the conference, allowing the other guys to sink 37.6 percent of their shots beyond the arc.

Ugly

Losing the season opener, at home, to Division-II Southwest Baptist easily was the most stunning defeat for any Mountain West squad so far this season.

5. New Mexico (9-5, 66)

Good

Tony Danridge, a 6-5 senior from San Bernardino, Calif., whose father is a pastor, sat out last season with a broken bone in his left leg. This season, he leads the Lobos with 13.5 points a game.

Bad

At 65.6 percent, New Mexico is the worst Mountain West team at the free-throw line.

Ugly

Those defeats to Virginia Commonwealth and Drake in Cancun. Hey Lobos, did you drink the water?

6. Air Force (9-4, 125)

Good

Senior forward Anwar Johnson has doubled his scoring output, from 7.5 points to 15.1, from his junior campaign.

Bad

It’s eighth in the league in scoring, at 66.5 points a game.

Ugly

Those home defeats to Wofford and Stony Brook made the Falcons look like Flamingos.

7. Wyoming (11-3, 192)

Good

Brandon Ewing (first, 18.5 points a game), Afam Muojeke (seventh, 16.1), Sean Ogirri (eighth, 15.2) and Tyson Johnson (ninth, 14.6) are among the conference’s top nine scorers.

Bad

The Cowboys allow a league-worst 73.7 points a game. They yielded 72 a game last season.

Ugly

A 51-point defeat to UCLA at Pauley Pavilion two days before Christmas was a stinger.

8. TCU (8-5, 123)

Good

Junior center Zvonko Buljan averages 11.4 points and 6.5 boards, the latter being seventh in the league. We just like typing Z-v-o-n-k-o.

Bad

The Frogs are eighth in the conference in scoring margin, at +6.2. Who’s worse? Uh, scroll down two inches.

Ugly

The 10 points that TCU allowed Colgate to score in the second half Tuesday. If it can carry that stinginess over to the league slate, some upsets are in the making.

9. Colorado State (5-9, 145)

Good

Marcus Walker, a 6-foot senior from Kansas City, Kan., was the league’s Newcomer of the Year last season and is fifth in scoring at 16.3 points a game.

Bad

It’s last in assists, at less than 11 a game, and is the lone Mountain West team to turn it over more than 200 times.

Ugly

That 0-16 record in the league last season. The Rams won’t do that again, will they?

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