The Mountain West Conference is one of the most talked about conferences in college basketball. 

Last season, the conference featured six teams in the NCAA Tournament. San Diego State, Utah State, New Mexico, Boise State, Nevada, and Colorado State all had tremendous seasons, which earned them an opportunity to play in the Big Dance. 

Outside of the Aztecs and Aggies, however, no school won a game in the electrifying tournament. Utah State defeated TCU in the Round of 64. They then battled a great Purdue squad (who ended up losing in the championship game) but ultimately couldn’t keep up in the Round of 32 contest. 

For the second consecutive NCAA Tournament, SDSU ran into the UConn Huskies, who were  crowned back-to-back champions. Though they didn’t win, the Aztecs once again proved why they are the team to watch in the conference. Reaching the Sweet 16 in consecutive seasons brought the program national attention. 

San Diego State is considered the premier team of Mountain West hoops. SDSU recently announced it is joining the Pac-12 for the 2026-2027 season. The Mountain West is losing its premier basketball school. 

“We are a Power 5 school I don’t care what conference we are in,” head coach Brian Dutcher said to the media Monday. “With that being said, we are excited about the move to the Pac-12. I think it will be a new opportunity. We have two more years of a competitive Mountain West and we’ll keep an eye on the future but prepare for the present.”

The Aztecs have won seven conference tournaments in 16 appearances to the championship, as well as nine regular season titles in the 25 years of the Mountain West’s existence. Among current members, the Lobos rank second with five conference tournaments and four regular season titles. UNLV is third with three conference tournaments but has just one regular season title.

The Aztecs have an overall record of 563-267 with a conference record at 260-146 since the inaugural season of the conference in 1999-2000. Boise State has the next highest win percentage since they joined in 2011, at .626, giving them a 144-86 conference record. 

This season’s schedule will look a bit different as the conference games reach 20 compared to 18 from years past. San Diego State will now face each team twice with the opportunity to play each opponent at home and on the road. 

The conference schedule was released two weeks ago; then, the non-conference schedule came out a few days ago. The Aztecs will not play a true road non-conference game, which could benefit them well to begin the season. 

“Well, we would like a road game,” Dutcher said. “We would like to start a home-and-home with somebody. It just didn’t work out this year. We actually gave ourselves a chance to make the NCAA Tournament in November. That is a competitive non-conference schedule. We have to find a way to be successful. We don’t have to win them all, but we have to win a number of them.”

 

Mountain West Conference Men’s Basketball Rosters Preview

Air Force

Last year’s record: 9-22 (2-16)

Key Players: Beau Becker, Ethan Taylor, Jeffery Mills

The Falcons lost their top player from last year, Rytis Petraitis, as he transferred to Cal Berkeley. He averaged 15.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game last season. Replacing his offense will be difficult. 

The next top point-scorers from last season are returning. Beau Becker and Ethan Taylor both averaged north of 13 points per game and should be the Falcons’ top options. Air Force should struggle to win conference games again this season. 

Games against SDSU: January 7 (home), January 21 (away)

Boise State

Last year’s record: 22-11 (13-5)

Key Players: Tyson Degenhart, Alvaro Cardenas, O’Mar Stanley

Tyson Degenhart returns to the Broncos as one of the conference’s top players. Degenhart should be on the 2024-25 Preseason All-Conference First Team. He was named to the 2023-24 All-MW First Team as he averaged 16.7 points and 6.2 rebounds while shooting 50.3% from the field. 

One of the conference’s top shooters is transferring in. The Broncos welcome Alvaro Cardenas, who shot 45.7% from the field last year for San Jose State. He now joins a good Broncos squad aiming to win the MW for the second time in four seasons. 

Stanley pairs alongside Degenhart in the frontcourt. He averaged 12.7 points, 1.2 blocks, and 6.6 rebounds last season. 

Between Degenhart’s all-around ability, Gardenas’ IQ and shooting ability, and Stanley’s defense and rebounding, the Broncos have a shot to be a great team once again in 2024-25. 

Games against SDSU: January 4 (away), February 15 (home)

Colorado State

Last year’s record: 25-11 (10-8)

Key Players: Nique Clifford, Jalen Lake, Bowen Born

CSU’s roster will look much different compared to last season. They have six transfers coming in. Most notably, Ethan Morton transferred in from Purdue as a former starter. He only averaged 0.6 points per game last season for the Boilermakers, however, averaged 3.8 per game in 2022-23 and started 29 games at guard. His experience will help this team. 

Bowen Born comes in from Northern Iowa, where he averaged 13.3 points per game, making 54 threes. Keshawn Williams is recovering from a season-ending injury but had a strong start to the campaign last season for Northern Illinois, averaging 17.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. 

Colorado State may not see the same success this season, but they will be a competitive team in the conference. 

Games against SDSU: January 14 (home), February 8 (away)

Fresno State

Last year’s record: 12-21 (4-14)

Key Players: Amar Augillard, David Douglas Jr, Jalen Weaver

The identity of this team is unknown. The team hired head coach Vance Walberg, who has 40 years of coaching experience. Donovan Yap Jr. and Xavier DuSell transferred away but remained in the conference.

Amar Augillard heads to Fresno after being named the 2024 Juco Player of the Year. The 6-foot-5 guard averaged 22.7 points per game to lead one of the top offenses in the nation at Triton College. His transition to a conference that focuses on defense should be one to keep an eye on as the season goes along. 

Games against SDSU: December 4 (away), February 18 (home)

New Mexico

Last year’s record: 26-10 (10-8)

Key Players: Nelly Junior-Joseph, Donovan Dent, CJ Noland

After winning the 2024 Conference Tournament in Las Vegas, the Lobos lost their first NCAA Tournament game to Clemson in the Round of 64. They now transition, losing their top player in Jaelen House (graduation), as well as former freshman star JT Toppin to Texas Tech. 

Noland comes to New Mexico from North Texas, where he averaged 10.9 points and 2.0 assists per game last year. Junior-Joseph should be one of the top defensive centers in the conference while Donocan Dent has a chance to break out for the Lobos. Dent was named to second-team All-Mountain West last season, averaging 14.1 points and 5.4 assists per game. 

Games against SDSU: January 11 (away), February 25 (home)

Nevada

Last year’s record: 26-8 (13-5)

Key Players: Kobe Sanders, Xavier DuSell, Brandon Love, Nick Davidson

San Diego native Kobe Sanders transferred to Nevada from Cal Poly after a breakout season last year. The senior averaged 19.6 points which was 45th in the nation. He also averaged 3.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game, shooting 45.9% from the floor. DuSell (Fresno State) and Love (Texas State) also transferred in. Those trio of transfers will make a big impact for the Wolf Pack. 

Davidson and K.J. Hymes are the only two returning starters for Nevada. Davidson was named to Third-Team All-Conference last year, averaging 12.2 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. 

Games against SDSU: January 25 (away), March 8 (final conference home game)

San Diego State

Last year’s record: 26-11 (11-7)

Key Players: Wayne McKinney III, Miles Byrd, Jared Coleman-Jones, Reese Waters

East Village Times previewed the Aztecs 2024-25 roster.

“We are right on schedule,” Dutcher said about the offseason. We hope to have Nick Boyd out of his walking boot this week. We hope to slowly get him back on the floor and keep building this Aztecs basketball team. We are excited about the schedule and playing a full round robin in the Mountain West.”

San Jose State

Last year’s record: 9-23 (2-16)

Key Players: Donovan Yap Jr, Chol Marial, Adrame Diongue, Josh Uduje

San Jose State and Air Force tied for the worst records in Mountain West play last season. They also lost their top two offensive players, Alvaro Cardenas (Boise State) and Myron Amey Jr. (Loyola Marymount).

Uduje won Mountain West Sixth Man of the Year last year and brings valuable experience from Utah State. Marial comes from Oregon State, where he contributed last season as a 7-foot-2 center.

Rather than relying on two offensive players as SJSU did last year, they will focus on building a defensive squad to compete with the similar-minded conference opponents. It’s easy to improve off a two-win conference season. However, it seems that this team is trying to change their culture. 

Games against SDSU: January 28 (home), February 11 (away)

UNLV

Last year’s record: 21-13 (12-6)

Key Players: Dedan Thomas Jr, Jailen Bedford, Jaden Henley, Rob Whaley Jr.

Thomas Jr. showcased how good he was last season by being rewarded as Co-Mountain West Freshman of the Year with JT Toppin. He also set the seasonal conference assist record with 174. The former 5-star recruit could have another breakout season in what should lead UNLV to a solid campaign. SDSU bounced UNLV in the first round of the conference tournament last season. 

Jailen Bedford comes to Vegas from Oral Roberts, where he averaged 14.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. He and Thomas Jr. will make a tough duo to defend. 

Games against SDSU: January 18 (home), March 4 (away)

Utah State

Last year’s record: 28-7 (14-4)

Key Players: Dexter Akanno, Mason Falslev, Deyton Albury, Aubin Gatereste

Utah State found a way to continue their conference dominance last season despite bringing in a new coach. Danny Sprinkle had a one-and-done season with the Aggies and left for Washington. Following him was Conference Player of the Year, Great Osobor. 

It’s not easy improving after losing a coach and player with that caliber. The Aggies looked to the transfer portal once again as Dexter Akanno comes to the team from Oregon State. He averaged 10.9 points for the Beavers last year. Deyton Albury can score the rock as well. He averaged 17 points per game for Queens University last season. 

Mason Falslev has a good chance to break out for the Aggies. Last year, he averaged 11.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and shot 56% from the floor. They will need his scoring ability.  

Games against SDSU: December 28 (home), February 22 (away)

Wyoming

Last year’s record: 15-17 (8-10)

Key Players: Touko Tainamo, Obi Agbim, Jordan Nesbitt, Dontaie Allen

Wyoming always competes hard in the conference. Because of where they play, Laramie is always a tough place to win on the road. They grind out their wins and rely on defense to get the job done late. The roster will look different, with many transfers coming in. 

The Cowboys bring in Touko Tainamo, who transferred in from Denver. The roster doesn’t have many elite offensive players, but he should be one of the top options. The Finland native averaged 15.2 points and 7.7 rebounds last season. Furthermore, Obi Agbim averaged 15.5 points per game for Fort Lewis College. 

Games against SDSU: February 1 (home), March 1 (away)

Chris Spiering

Chris is a graduate of the University of San Diego. He is the former Sports Editor for the USDVista newspaper. Chris is also an athlete and is huge fan of San Diego sports. Chris has covered the San Diego Loyal, and contributes regularly about the Padres.