How Many Mountain West Teams Will Make NCAA Tournament?
Six-bid league?
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Mountain West is doing extremely well in hoops
It’s hard to ignore what is happening in the Mountain West Conference this basketball season when one looks at its history.
Eight years ago, the Mountain West Conference was at the lowest point in basketball history regarding getting teams in the Big Dance.
A gloomy shadow hung over the league as Fresno State emerged victorious in the league tournament, earning a modest No. 14 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Surprisingly, only some of the 25-win, regular-season champion San Diego State received an invitation.
The following season brought no relief, resulting in just one NCAA Tournament bid, courtesy of Nevada.
Fast forward eight years, and things have changed for the better for the Mountain West Conference.
The narrative takes a turn for the extraordinary as San Diego State triumphantly reaches the 2023 national title game under head coach Brian Dutcher.
Undoubtedly, the Aztecs have been one of the most consistently winning teams in the Mountain West Conference. Still, the numbers don’t lie in that regard.
Reminder…ELITE @MountainWest Basketball 🏀😈🔥
• 1 of 4 conf (Big 12, 5; Big Ten, 4; MW, 4; SEC, 4) with 4 or more teams ranked among top 30 of current NET rankings.
• 6 teams ranked among top 56 of current NET rankings. Top 6 teams combined 95-22 on season.
— Jeramiah Dickey (@JeramiahDickey) January 26, 2024
This achievement propels the conference to new heights, boasting six teams in the mock field of 68—an unprecedented feat that threatens to break the league’s previous record set in 2013.
The last time a non-Power six conference achieved such a remarkable milestone was Atlantic 10 in 2014.
The Atlantic 10 Conference earned a record six bids to the NCAA Tournament Sunday following a record season.
The Mountain West now stands proud with six teams positioned within the top 55 of the NET rankings: New Mexico (19), San Diego State (20), Utah State (25), Colorado State (30), Nevada (47), and Boise State (55).
This formidable group has accumulated a remarkable 14 Quad 1 wins, putting them in a league of their own.
A stark comparison with the Pac-12, boasting only four teams in the top 55, and the ACC, also with six teams but with 12 Q1 wins among that cohort, highlights the newfound prowess of the Mountain West.
How did this transformation occur? It all started with a strategic shift in scheduling. The league officials devised a plan to recognize the limitations of attracting power-conference teams to locations like Boise, Idaho, and Fort Collins, Colo.
MWC teams were propelled into early-season multi-team events, providing them with opportunities to face formidable competition on neutral grounds.
Home-and-home matchups with solid mid-major programs became the norm, avoiding anchor games in Quad 4 as much as possible.
Mountain West Commissioner credits the high level of understanding among the coaches regarding team positioning and scheduling.
The goal was clear—to emerge with a 70-to-75% winning percentage in nonconference play, equipped with notable victories.
The strategy paid off, with the league posting an impressive 73.2% winning percentage in nonconference play, ranking fourth among the 32 conferences.
As conference play unfolded, Quad 1 and 2 opportunities presented abundantly, mitigating the potential for damaging losses.
#SixBidMW 🏀 pic.twitter.com/EmATWrtMhW
— Mountain West (@MountainWest) January 26, 2024
The league’s commitment to avoiding losses to teams with lower NET rankings, exemplified by Air Force (200) and Fresno State (236), set the Mountain West apart. In contrast, the WCC struggled with three teams ranked below 250.
“When you lose to them,” Nevarez said of the conference stragglers, “you’re not losing to sub-300 NET teams.”
There is no denying the excitement around the league, and one would have to give some props to Gloria Nevarez’s new leadership.
Having assumed that position from retiring MW commissioner Craig Thompson on January 1, 2023, Gloria Nevarez came into her leadership role at a great time!
The national runner-up finish last year by San Diego State brought unprecedented exposure and millions of dollars in NCAA Tournament units to the league.
This success has spurred other schools to catch up and invest in their basketball programs.
While it’s unlikely that the Mountain West will maintain all six teams in the dance, the Pac-12’s challenges and the WCC’s potential one-bid season underscore the indisputable fact— the best basketball in the West is being played in the Mountain West.
Boasting influential head coaches such as Steve Alford at Nevada, Richard Pitino at New Mexico, Brian Dutcher at SDSU, Tim Miles at San Jose State, Leon Rice at Boise, and others, it’s challenging to envision a weakened Mountain West Conference.
From a fan’s perspective, this league has been electrified, offering exhilarating games that are an absolute joy to watch on either Fox Sports 1, CBS Sports Network, or national TV coverage on CBS Network.
Home teams hold a definite advantage this season, setting the stage for intense matchups and potentially providing a crucial edge as the postseason and NCAA tournament draws near.
The excitement is palpable, especially with the anticipation building for the inaugural mailbag edition of Bracket Watch.
Fans are encouraged to submit questions about NCAA Tournament selection, the bubble, team outlooks, and more.
As we approach Selection Sunday, just 51 days away, the enthralling journey of Mountain West basketball persists, capturing the hearts of fans and serving as a source of inspiration.
