2022 Preseason Conference Preview: Mountain West Conference

[Ezaco]

MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE

 

Our last conference preview is no easy one. It's a competitive conference that will bloody itself en route to some special contenders.

 

AIR FORCE FALCONS

The goal of the Falcons is not to be a competitive basketball team, and it's a bit self-fulfilling. While there's some special playerso n this roster such as Tyler Carpenter, Jeffrey Mcgee, and Francis Mcpherson, there's not a lot going around to make them dominant. It's a lackluster defense and rebounding effort backed up by a decent paint and midrange scoring ability, and not a bad 3 point shooting effort either. That scoring may be decent, but it's not quite enough for the abysmal defense.

 

Season Prediction: Misses NCAA Tournament

 

BOISE STATE BRONCOS

The Broncos are a mixed bag, individually. Adrian Jackson has busted the 2 star 'ceiling' and is one of the better players in the conference and country, and Douglas Sousa is following in his footsteps as an amazing shooter. But you have some guys on this roster than, frankly, shouldn't be. What it turns into is a defense that is above average when they're on the floor, and great when they're not. Rebounding-wise the team is average all around, but paint scoring is, simply put, incredible. The midrange jumper for this team is something they can definitely fall back on, and while they have some 3 point shooters they won't be relying on it.

 

Season Prediction: Bubble Team

 

:coloradostate: COLORADO STATE RAMS

This Rams team could be really special. Steven Howard could be one of the best players in America, and he has competition on his own team from Timothy Marquis, Andre Mann, Jules Stillwell, and Max Garner. This is an incredible collection of talent, with five or more guys who could potentially make NBA rosters. Now defensively these guys aren't going to scare anyone, but in rebounding they are going to bully you around. Scoring from the paint is above average, and they're deadly stepping out to the midrange and even 3 point. This is a scary team.

 

Season Prediction: NCAA Tournament - Final Four

 

:fresnostate: FRESNO STATE BULLDOGS

Obligatory Fresno is not a state... but the state of Fresno State is stately. This is a hardened defense with good effort on the backboard, and scoring from the paint they will bully you around. Their 3 point shooting is streaky, but from the midrange they can be relied on. Robert Noonan is a special player (if only he could play defense) and Jason Witucki will draw NBA attention if he can develop a 3 point shot. Andrew Kramer is the future of Bulldogs basketball, and it looks bright.

 

Season Prediction: NCAA Tournament - Round of 32

 

:hawaii: HAWAI'I RAINBOW WARRIORS

A little bit less rainbows these days, the prospects for Hawai'i are still bright. It's not an impressive defense, and they're a bit average when it comes to rebounds, but the paint scoring ability here is a bit insane. You won't be able to stop them.. but you might have a better chance at stopping them from the midrange (average) and the arc (below average). Michael Phillips is the standout guy on this roster who should garner a lot of national attention for any eyes that go beyond the Rocky Mountains.

 

Season Prediction: NCAA Tournament - Round of 64

 

:nevada: NEVADA WOLFPACK

The Wolfpack are going to frustrate themselves. This is a good defensive team who can rebound... but scoring is a bit of a challenge. Not in the paint, that comes pretty easy for them, but the 3 point shooting effort is dreadful, and the midrange is a bit streaky. Being that one dimensional, and a little underwhelming compared to other teams in that regard, is going to make it tough on a team without any bonafied stars as well.

 

Season Prediction: Bubble Team

 

:newmexico: NEW MEXICO LOBOS

The Lobos are a unique mascot with a unique team. Michael Gonzalez headlines a cadre of shooters that can sink a basket from almost anywhere. The Lobos can score at will in the paint, shoot the lights out from the midrange, and is dangerous from 3 point land as well. It's a team that can bully you on the rebounds. If there's any detriment it's that they're a bit average on defense. But the Lobos are a scary team that are going to make some moves.

 

Season Prediction: NCAA Tournament - Elite 8

 

:sdsu: SAN DIEGO STATE AZTECS

There's a five star recruit on this team, and he's not even the best player. Adolfo Acosta is an elite defender with steel elbows and a post game like you haven't seen, but he's outshined by the three star Ernest George and four star Ernie Mathur, both of whom can score at will from every spot at the court and still have some defensive chops. Every player on this team is an absolute force in the pain, and stepping back into the midrange is a dangerous prospect as well. Unfortunately for the Aztecs the 3 point game is lacking, and though they're great in rebounding the defense is simply average.

 

Season Prediction: NCAA Tournament - Round of 32

 

SAN JOSE STATE SPARTANS

The Spartans are a roster of exceeding expectation. Despite the highest recruiting star being a 3 star, there's at least two players who will be garnering NBA attention this summer. Christopher Winter's scoring ability could be better, but you may not find a better defender around. James Anders is a great scoring talent who puts effort back on defense, and Michael Fennell has the same potential. Despite all this, as a whole the Spartans are average defensively and in rebounding. It's a good team scoring from the paint and midrange, but average from 3 point. Even still... they've already shown they blow away expectations, so what else will they do?

 

Season Prediction: NCAA Tournament - Round of 32

 

:unlv: UNLV RUNNIN' REBELS

It feels like it's been a minute since we previewed a disappointing team in this conference, but the Runnin' Rebels are it. There's some legit talent on this roster, but overall they're underwhelming. A good scoring team in the paint, they're average from midrange and 3 point. But when it comes to defense and rebounding they're not very good, and in moving the ball this team makes a lot of mistakes. Karl Cheers and Vladimir Underhill will draw a lot of eyes, but it's makeup on a pig for this team.

 

Season Prediction: Bubble Team

 

:utahstate: UTAH STATE AGGIES

Ralph Jones could be the best player in the nation. Or Richard Guerra. Or Michael Mcfadden. Or Neil Wetzel. All four of these guys, plus George Tate, could garner NBA attention. It's a team that dominates in paint scoring, shoots lights out from the midrange, and absolutely has to be respected from the arc. Unfortunately they also make more than a few mistakes with the ball, are just average on rebounding, and underwhelming on defense. It's an NBA level roster that can't do NBA level things.

 

Season Prediction: NCAA Tournament - Round of 32

 

:wyoming: WYOMING COWBOYS

John Mckenzie is going to prove to you that recruiting stars mean nothing when the former two star recruit gets drafted into the NBA. But the Cowboys as a team will be underwhelming despite that. It's a bad defensive team who doesn't put much effort on the boards. Despite that they score really well in the paint and midrange, and are really good from the arc. But while there's certainly a lot of skill and ability there, it's not quite as much as their rivals. I expect the Cowboys to get bucked around.

 

Season Prediction: Bubble Team

[Ezaco]

Pick to win conference: Colorado State