AROUND THE MOUNTAIN WEST

  • The Mountain West has five teams in the top 70 of the NET rankings (as of Jan. 6) and is one of seven conferences (ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, SEC and WCC) that have five or more in the top 70. The MW is also one of six conferences with multiple teams in the top 50 of the NET rankings.
  • The Mountain West ranks sixth in the conference NET rankings behind the SEC, Big 12, Big Ten, Big East and ACC.
  • The MW is 74-46 (.617) in nonconference action in 2024-25, ranking among the top nine conferences in the nation.
  • Nine of 11 MW teams finished nonconference action with a record of .500 or better this season.
  • Six Mountain West teams earned bids to the 2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, a league record and the most since earning five in 2012-13.
  • The Mountain West has two teams ranked or receiving votes in the Associated Press Poll and the USA Today Coaches Poll. Utah State is ranked No. 25 in both polls, while San Diego State is receiving votes in both polls.
  • The six NCAA tournament bids last season were tied for the third most among Division I Conferences (Big 12, 8, SEC, 8; Big Ten, 6).
  • The MW is one of five conferences (ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, SEC) to have four or more NCAA tournament bids each of the last three seasons.
  • For the first time in league history, three different MW teams (Colorado State, San Diego State, and Utah State) recorded a win in the NCAA tournament.
  • In 2024, the Mountain West had two teams (San Diego State and Utah State) play in the round of 32 for the first time since 2013.
  • The Mountain West has earned multiple NCAA tournament bids in 21 of 25 seasons heading into 2024-25.
  • Colorado State’s Nique Clifford leads the nation in defensive rebounds per game, averaging 8.9 in 2024-25. He’s also tied for 11th in the country in double-doubles with seven.
  • New Mexico’s Donovan Dent is eighth in the nation in total assists with 105 this season.
  • UNM’s Nelly Junior Joseph has recorded seven double-doubles this season, which tied for the 11th-most double-doubles in the country.
  • San Diego State’s Magoon Gwath is ninth in DI men’s basketball in total blocks with 35 in 2024-25.
  • Utah State’s Mason Falslev has swiped 40 steals this season, which ranks eighth in the country.
  • Boise State’s Tyson Degenhart is on multiple watch lists this season. The senior forward has been named to the 2024-25 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Men’s Player of the Year Watch List, the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Top 20 Preseason Watch List and the Lute Olson Early Season Watch List.