AROUND THE MOUNTAIN WEST
- The Mountain West is celebrating its 25th season of men’s basketball during the 2023-24 campaign.
- In the current NET rankings, the Mountain West has six programs ranked among the top 40: San Diego State (20), Boise State (23), New Mexico (28), Nevada (31), Utah State (33) and Nevada (36). These six teams are a combined 133-43 on the season, including a 69-10 mark in nonconference action.
- The Mountain West is 104-38 (.732) in nonconference action in 2023-24, the third-best nonconference record in league history and best since 2012-23.
- Best in the WEST. The Mountain West is 24-7 against the Pac-12 (6-1) and West Coast Conference (18-6) in 2023-24.
- The Mountain West is the one of two conferences (Big 12) that have six or more teams with an overall winning percentage of .700 or better.
- The Mountain West is the only conference to have all its teams finish the nonconference slate with a winning percentage above .500.
- Utah State is currently ranked 18th in the Associated Press poll and the USA Today Coaches poll, while Nevada is No. 23 in the AP poll and No. 22 in the coaches poll.
- Boise State, Colorado State, New Mexico and San Diego State are receiving votes in the national polls.
- Four MW guards rank among the top 30 in the nation in assists per game. Colorado State’s Isaiah Stevens is sixth in the nation with 7, while Utah State’s Darius Brown II is 10th with 6.4 and Fresno State’s Isaiah Hill ranks 18th with 6.1 assists per game. New Mexico’s Donovan Dent ranks 29th with 5.5 helpers per contest.
- CSU’s Stevens and SDSU’s Jaedon LeDee have been named to the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 and the Lute Olson watch lists. Additionally, Utah State’s Great Osobor was named to the Lute Olson watch list. The trio was also named to the Oscar Robertson Trophy Watch List.
- The Mountain West is one of five conferences (ACC, Big 12, Big East, SEC) with three or more student-athletes on the Lute Olson watch list.
- SDSU’s LeDee and USU’s Osobor are finalists for the Karl Malone Award.
