As part of its 2022–23 men’s basketball preseason coverage, Sports Illustrated is rolling out previews for each of the top 10 conferences. Next up is the Mountain West.
The Mountain West was the best conference outside of the “Power 6” (Power 5 plus Big East) per KenPom a season ago, putting four teams in the NCAA tournament and six in the top 75 nationally. That regular-season success didn’t translate to March, though, as the league went 0–4 in the NCAA tournament (including 0–3 as the higher seed). Much of that can be attributed to matchups: Champion Boise State drew red-hot Memphis, and Colorado State took on a Michigan team with far more talent that made a run to the Sweet 16.
Still, it feels like the Mountain West has something to prove this year come March. The good news: It has the teams to do it, starting with a San Diego State squad that could be the best non-Gonzaga team outside the major conferences.
