A look at the Mountain West Conference men’s basketball teams going into league play:
AIR FORCE
Nonconference record: 8-5
Coach: Jeff Reynolds, 34-40 in three seasons
Best victory: 77-71 over Niagara
Worst loss: 60-52 to Northern Arizona
Key player: Third-year starting guard Evan Washington is holding the Falcons together through an extraordinary list of injuries. Washington, a junior, leads the MWC in playing time. He’s averaging 34.5 minutes per game.
Key to the season: The Falcons need several injured players — including Grant Parker, Sammy Schafer and Avery Merriex — back on the court to get their first MWC regular-season win since 2008.
BRIGHAM YOUNG
Nonconference record: 14-1
Coach: Dave Rose, 111-35 in five seasons
Best victory: 77-71 over Arizona State
Only loss: 71-61 to Utah State
Key player: Junior guard Jimmer Fredette (averaging 21.6 points and 5.6 assists) is the MWC’s only returning first-team all-conference player. He is oblivious to pressure, in part because of a strong supporting cast — returning starters Jonathan Tavernari, Jackson Emery and Chris Miles.
Key to the season: It’s not “if” BYU goes to the NCAA Tournament, it’s where the Cougars are seeded. BYU has won or tied for the last three MWC titles. The season won’t be successful unless Fredette and the Cougars get past the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
COLORADO STATE
Nonconference record: 9-5
Coach: Tim Miles, 25-52 in three seasons
Best victory: 77-62 over Colorado
Worst loss: 73-50 at Fresno State
Key player: Junior forward Travis Franklin, a role player a year ago, may be one of the MWC’s most improved players. He has boosted his scoring and rebounding averages from 6.5 and 3.6 last season to 11.9 and 5.4 this season. He provides some inside presence the Rams have needed for two seasons.
Key to the season: CSU must learn how to win on the road. The Rams have won at neutral sites but have struggled on the MWC road.
NEVADA-LAS VEGAS
Nonconference record: 12-2
Coach: Lon Kruger, 124-55 in six seasons
Best victory: 76-71 over Louisville
Worst loss: 95-80 to Kansas State, Kruger’s alma mater
Key player: Junior guard Tre’von Willis is the Rebels’ most experienced player. And he started his college career at Memphis. He must pick up the void left by Wink Adams, a two-time all-MWC pick.
Key to the season: UNLV has five Division I transfers, including 6-foot-8 sophomore swingman Chace Stanback (UCLA) and Willis. Chemistry will be vital as Kruger spreads the playing time. The Rebels can’t afford to get rattled by road games against BYU and New Mexico that open their MWC schedule.
NEW MEXICO
Nonconference record: 14-1
Coach: Steve Alford, 60-22 in three seasons
Best victory: 90-65 over Texas Tech
Only loss: 77-66 at Oral Roberts
Key player: Junior swingman Darington Hobson, a 6-foot-7 newcomer, already is a force. He gives the Lobos, as Alford said, two left-handed pitchers with 6-6 senior forward Roman Martinez.
Key to the season: The Lobos can’t waste their momentum with squabbles over who shoots the ball. They have three scorers capable of averaging double figures — Hobson, Martinez and 6-1 junior guard Dairese Gary.
SAN DIEGO STATE
Nonconference record: 11-3
Coach: Steve Fisher, 184-143 in 11 seasons
Best victory: 63-46 over Arizona
Worst loss: 71-63 at Pacific
Key player: Junior forward Billy White has boosted his scoring average from last season (8.8 points) to a team-leading 12.6 this season. White is important to the development of forwards Kawhi Leonard and Malcolm Thomas.
Key to the season: The Aztecs need continued improvement inside from their young players. Fisher has one of his most talented teams overall.
TEXAS CHRISTIAN
Nonconference record: 7-7
Coach: Jim Christian, 12-18 in two seasons
Best victory: 70-58 over Rice
Worst loss: 105-61 to Houston
Key player: Zvonko Buljan, a 6-foot-9 senior from Croatia, has become one of the MWC’s top post players. He shares the scoring load with two teammates but is the Horned Frogs’ leading rebounder, averaging 9.1.
Key to the season: TCU, which played a weak nonconference schedule, has struggled in basketball since joining the MWC. TCU has a good nucleus in Buljan, sophomore guard Ronnie Moss and senior guard Edvinas Ruzgas (Lithuania). It’s up to Coach Christian to draw the most chemistry out of his international imports.
UTAH
Nonconference record: 7-7
Coach: Jim Boylen, 49-32 in three seasons
Best victory: 61-59 at LSU
Worst loss: 76-64 at Pepperdine
Key player: Senior guard Luka Drca, from Serbia, is an all-around threat who averages 10.9 points, 4.4 assists and 1.6 steals. There are plenty of outlets for distribution.
Key to the season: The Utes were inconsistent during their nonconference schedule, perhaps expected because Boylen has a roster full of newcomers. “We’ve had terrific wins and gut-wrenching losses,” he says. David Foster, a 7-foot-3 sophomore, could become another Utes star like Luke Neville, last season’s MWC player of the year. But Utah needs a scrappy player to replace Tyler Kepkay as well as more offensive threats.
WYOMING
Nonconference record: 7-7
Coach: Heath Schroyer, 38-39 in three seasons
Best victory: 87-61 over Boise State
Worst loss: 78-67 to Hampton
Key player: Sophomore forward Afam Muojeke ranks second in the MWC in scoring at 17.6 points per game. He was last season’s MWC freshman of the year.
Key to the season: Perhaps no player in the MWC is missed more than Brandon Ewing, a four-year starting point guard with Wyoming. The Cowboys are creating a new identity and with players now familiar with Schroyer’s system, improvement is expected. Sophomore guard A.J. Davis is on the verge of having a breakout season.
