WyoSports senior editor and University of Wyoming men?s basketball beat writer Robert Gagliardi with his Mountain West power rankings for the week of Jan. 2. Look for these rankings each week during conference play. Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) rankings are from NCAA.com through games played Jan. 2.
1. New Mexico (9-5 overall, 2-0 MW, 95 RPI): The biggest jump for any team based on a home win over Fresno State and an impressive road win at San Diego State on New Year?s Day. The talent has always been there, but to see the Lobos put it together to open league play was impressive. Will they continue the good play Wednesday at Utah State or have a letdown?
2. Nevada (12-3, 1-1, 49 RPI): A one-point loss at Fresno State knocks the Wolf Pack from No. 1, but a lot of teams will come up short in Fresno. Still one of the more complete teams in the league, with a prolific scorer in senior guard Marcus Marshall (20.9 ppg, 3.9 3-pointers per game).
3. Boise State (9-4, 2-0, 75 RPI): The Broncos joined New Mexico as the only team to make it out of the first week of league play 2-0 as they won both of their games by a combined four points. Junior forward Chandler Hutchison continues to impress (18 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 54.9 percent field goal percentage).
4. Fresno State (9-5, 1-1, 157 RPI): No Marvelle Harris (last season?s MW Player of the Year as a senior), no problem. Could make a strong argument that the Bulldogs should be higher after beating Nevada at home by one point. Despite some different players and different roles for others, Fresno State still is the most physical defensive team in the conference, and leads with 8.8 steals per game.
5. San Diego State (8-5, 0-1, 128 RPI): A surprising home loss on New Year?s Day to New Mexico, just when you thought the Aztecs were getting things figured out. A road game at Nevada Wednesday and a home game with Boise State Saturday all of a sudden become big games this early in conference play. Could an 0-3 start be on the horizon?
6. Wyoming (11-4, 1-1, 85 RPI): A solid win at home over Air Force, followed by a sloppy road loss at a down UNLV squad dropped the Cowboys significantly this week. Going to Fresno State Wednesday will be tough, but will be even tougher if they keep turning the ball over at its current pace of 16 per game.
7. Colorado State (9-6, 1-1, 171 RPI): Was one point and a buzzer-beating shot shy of winning at Boise State for a 2-0 conference start. The Rams are somewhat of a Jekyl & Hyde team, but when they?re on they?re as dangerous as any team in the league.
8. Air Force (8-7, 1-1, 204 RPI): A nice home win over Utah State last Saturday for the Falcons, who are tied with Nevada as the conference?s top scoring team (78.2 points per game). It?s so odd to say that about this team, but for it to improve it must do a better job on defense as it allows 72.8 points per contest ? second-to-last in the league.
9. UNLV (8-7, 1-1, 184 RPI): The Runnin? Rebels are down, but teams better not automatically think they can chalk up a win. UNLV will be tough to beat at home, but must play better on the road ? then again, who doesn?t?
10. San Jose State (7-5, 0-1, 160 RPI): The Spartans are better, but didn?t show it in a 25-point road loss at Nevada to open league play. Two home games this week against Colorado State and Fresno State should be interesting. San Jose State has one of the more underrated players in the league in sophomore forward Brandon Clarke (15.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 2.1 bpg, 55 percent field-goal shooting).
11. Utah State (6-7, 0-2, 214 RPI): The only team in the MW to lose both of its conference games last week. Still not sure why the Aggies have struggled so much. On paper, this team is much better, but it goes to show you that the games aren?t played on paper. Utah State plays to home games this week against New Mexico and UNLV, so it better take full advantage of them.
1. New Mexico (9-5 overall, 2-0 MW, 95 RPI): The biggest jump for any team based on a home win over Fresno State and an impressive road win at San Diego State on New Year?s Day. The talent has always been there, but to see the Lobos put it together to open league play was impressive. Will they continue the good play Wednesday at Utah State or have a letdown?
2. Nevada (12-3, 1-1, 49 RPI): A one-point loss at Fresno State knocks the Wolf Pack from No. 1, but a lot of teams will come up short in Fresno. Still one of the more complete teams in the league, with a prolific scorer in senior guard Marcus Marshall (20.9 ppg, 3.9 3-pointers per game).
3. Boise State (9-4, 2-0, 75 RPI): The Broncos joined New Mexico as the only team to make it out of the first week of league play 2-0 as they won both of their games by a combined four points. Junior forward Chandler Hutchison continues to impress (18 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 54.9 percent field goal percentage).
4. Fresno State (9-5, 1-1, 157 RPI): No Marvelle Harris (last season?s MW Player of the Year as a senior), no problem. Could make a strong argument that the Bulldogs should be higher after beating Nevada at home by one point. Despite some different players and different roles for others, Fresno State still is the most physical defensive team in the conference, and leads with 8.8 steals per game.
5. San Diego State (8-5, 0-1, 128 RPI): A surprising home loss on New Year?s Day to New Mexico, just when you thought the Aztecs were getting things figured out. A road game at Nevada Wednesday and a home game with Boise State Saturday all of a sudden become big games this early in conference play. Could an 0-3 start be on the horizon?
6. Wyoming (11-4, 1-1, 85 RPI): A solid win at home over Air Force, followed by a sloppy road loss at a down UNLV squad dropped the Cowboys significantly this week. Going to Fresno State Wednesday will be tough, but will be even tougher if they keep turning the ball over at its current pace of 16 per game.
7. Colorado State (9-6, 1-1, 171 RPI): Was one point and a buzzer-beating shot shy of winning at Boise State for a 2-0 conference start. The Rams are somewhat of a Jekyl & Hyde team, but when they?re on they?re as dangerous as any team in the league.
8. Air Force (8-7, 1-1, 204 RPI): A nice home win over Utah State last Saturday for the Falcons, who are tied with Nevada as the conference?s top scoring team (78.2 points per game). It?s so odd to say that about this team, but for it to improve it must do a better job on defense as it allows 72.8 points per contest ? second-to-last in the league.
9. UNLV (8-7, 1-1, 184 RPI): The Runnin? Rebels are down, but teams better not automatically think they can chalk up a win. UNLV will be tough to beat at home, but must play better on the road ? then again, who doesn?t?
10. San Jose State (7-5, 0-1, 160 RPI): The Spartans are better, but didn?t show it in a 25-point road loss at Nevada to open league play. Two home games this week against Colorado State and Fresno State should be interesting. San Jose State has one of the more underrated players in the league in sophomore forward Brandon Clarke (15.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 2.1 bpg, 55 percent field-goal shooting).
11. Utah State (6-7, 0-2, 214 RPI): The only team in the MW to lose both of its conference games last week. Still not sure why the Aggies have struggled so much. On paper, this team is much better, but it goes to show you that the games aren?t played on paper. Utah State plays to home games this week against New Mexico and UNLV, so it better take full advantage of them.
