Mountain West Conference Notebook
by John Eisel
1. San Diego State (10-6, 3-1) (LW: 5)
Comment: Yes, I know Air Force beat them, but it was by three on the road. This is a different San Diego State team than at the beginning of the season.
Last week’s results: Won at Utah 72-67, beat UNLV 83-67.
What we liked: The Aztecs came back from halftime deficits in very different ways. Against the Utes, the Aztecs had a 35-25 rebounding advantage. Against UNLV, they were 31-37 from the free throw line.
What we didn’t like: Allowing Utah to shoot nearly 50 percent from the floor isn’t great.
Star of the week: Brandon Heath – He just finds ways to score.
2. Air Force (15-2, 3-1) (LW: 1)
Comment: It may take a few more weeks now for the Zoomies to get into the Top 25.
Last week’s results: Lost at Wyoming 55-50, beat TCU 75-49.
What we liked: Beating up and blowing out an inferior TCU team at home.
What we didn’t like: The complacency against Wyoming. No, the Cowboys haven’t been great this season (at least up till then), but the Zoomies now have the target on the chest in the conference and have to show up mentally every game.
Star of the week: Jacob Burtschi scored in double figures in both games, but most impressive (at least for Air Force) was his 13 rebounds against TCU, helping the Zoomies to a rare 28-20 rebound advantage over another team.
3. Colorado State (12-4, 1-2) (LW: 4)
Comment: Offense is looking great, but try to work on the defense.
Last week’s results: Beat Utah 84-78.
What we liked: It’s amazing that a team that hit 64 percent from the field, including seven of 12 from three-point range, only won by six.
What we didn’t like: The Rams are still allowing teams to shoot too high of a percent, with Utah hitting 54 percent this week. If it’s not corrected, the Rams won’t make it out of the MWC Tournament.
Star of the week: Guard Cory Lewis put up center-like numbers, making eight of 11 shots from the field for 19 points in the win.
4. UNLV (7-6, 2-1) (LW: 5)
Comment: No San Diego miracle this year.
Last week’s results: Beat BYU 82-72, lost at SDSU 83-67.
What we liked: The Rebels are playing team ball, averaging nearly 16 assists a game, while having more than SDSU and BYU last week. BYU is the current league leader.
What we didn’t like: The Rebels are not a good 3-point shooting team at 33 percent, yet they keep chucking the ball up, going 4 for 15 against BYU and 7 of 26 against the Aztecs.
Star of the week: Since none of the Rebels had consistently good performances, we’ll go with Jo’Van Adams for his 9-for-11 shooting night for 23 points against BYU.
5. Wyoming (10-7, 3-1 MWC) (LW: 8)
Comment: Steve McClain teams win they play good defense, rebound the ball and have at least three viable options on offense. Let’s see how long this lasts.
Last week’s results: Beat Air Force 55-50, beat New Mexico 77-70
What we liked: After surprising the Falcons, the Cowboys didn’t have a let down against the Lobos.
What we didn’t like: These were still two home games. To really make a jump up the charts, the team’s going to have to beat someone other than TCU outside of Laramie.
Star of the week: Freshman Brandon Ewing earned his first player of the week honors, averaging 17 points and four assists in the two games.
6. Brigham Young (9-5, 1-2) (LW: 3)
Comment: Just give Jo’Van Adams his due and move on to the next game.
Last week’s results: Lost at UNLV 82-72.
What we liked: The Cougars played toe-to-toe with the Rebels in Las Vegas, nearly winning the game.
What we didn’t like: Letting someone hit 9 of 11 shots is bad enough, but a freshman? Jo’Van Adams is showing why he’s going to be a stud in the league for years to come.
Star of the week: We’ll split it between Fernando Malaman (13 points, three rebounds) and Brock Reichner (10 points, four rebounds).
7. Utah (8-7, 1-3) (LW: 6)
Comment: Down talent-wise or not, they’re not playing typical Utah basketball.
Last week’s results: Lost to San Diego State 72-67, lost at CSU 84-78.
What we liked: The Utes are shooting well, led by Johnnie Bryant, averaging over 50 percent over the past two games.
What we didn’t like: Utah teams have been built on rebounding and defense. Right now, they’re hit and miss on these points. They were out-rebounded by 10 by SDSU and then allowed CSU to shoot 64 percent from the field – thus their first three-game losing streak in conference play since I don’t know when. They’re also dead-last in conference play in free-throw shooting.
Star of the week: Sharpshooter Johnnie Bryant is certainly making his case for most dangerous deep threat in the conference, scoring 17 and 15 points, with most coming from three-point range.
8. New Mexico (11-6, 2-2) (LW: 7)
Comment: You don’t get credit for beating TCU at home by two.
Last week’s results: Beat TCU 56-54, lost at Wyoming 77-70.
What we liked: At least they’re still undefeated at home.
What we didn’t like: They probably should have lost to TCU, if not for the Horned Frogs’ inability to make a basket. It doesn’t help that they can’t hit free throws. They were a combined 20-36 in the two games and nine for 19 against Wyoming. That hasn’t been typical for the Lobos this season. Oh, and the Lobos are still winless on the road this season.
Star of the week: Let’s see…Chiotti or Walters, Walters or Chiotti…We’ll go with Walters, especially after his 26-point performance against the Pokes. Still, both players have reached 1,000 points for their careers.
9. TCU (4-11, 0-1) (LW: 9)
Comment: The only question right now is who will play the Horned Frogs in the 8-9 seed game at the MWC Tournament.
Last week’s results: Lost at New Mexico 56-54, lost at Air Force 75-49.
What we liked: They at least put up a fight against the Lobos, leading by seven with four minutes to go before the trap door slapped tight on the hoop and they didn’t score the rest of the game.
What we didn’t like: This team cannot put the ball in the hoop. It’s a good day if they hit 40 percent of their shots.
Star of the week: Judson Stubbs had six points and 10 rebounds against the Lobos and led the Frogs with nine points against Air Force. Yes, led them.
