San Diego State looks to reclaim Mountain West title

Originally published in USA Today Sports Weekly’s College Basketball Season Preview issue.

By CURRAN McCAULEY

After a down year for the Mountain West conference in 2015-16 that saw the conference tournament champion Fresno State receive the only NCAA tournament bid, San Diego State will look to build on a 16-2 conference season that ended bitterly in Las Vegas. A young shooting core that includes Trey Kell (12.6 ppg) and Jeremy Hemsley (12.0 ppg) will look to complement Zylan Cheatham (7.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg), who figures to be an emerging post presence in his sophomore campaign.

Nevada makes a return to the top flight of the Mountain West with eyes on an NCAA tournament berth for the first time since 2007. Eric Musselman has installed an NBA-inspired offensive scheme that includes Cam Oliver (13.4 ppg) and impact transfer Marcus Marshall (Missouri State).

New Mexico will pin its hopes on conference player the year hopeful Elijah Brown (21.7 ppg) and Tim Williams (16.8 ppg). Fresno State finally broke through and reached the NCAA tournament after a 15-year gap, but Marvelle Harris is gone. The Bulldogs will hope Australian four-star recruit Darryl McDowell-White is the real deal while steady contributors Paul Watson (7.7 ppg) and Cullen Russo (7.8 ppg) are poised for big campaigns.

Boise State loses James Webb III to the pros, but forward Nick Duncan (11.6 ppg) returns and freshman guard Alex Hobbs comes to campus with big expectations. A backcourt of Jalen Moore (15.2 ppg) and Shane Rector (9.3 ppg) will have to guide Utah State if the Aggies want to play in the NCAA tournament.

Colorado State will get one of the best players in the conference back for another season as Gian Clavell (20.8 ppg at time of injury) is back for a sixth season after he won a medical hardship waiver following an early-season injury. UNLV is in full rebuild mode but got a shot in the arm as promising recruit Troy Baxter signed with the Rebels in early September.

Air Force returns Hayden Graham (13.8 ppg) and Zack Kocur (9.6 ppg) and could surprise some folks come conference tournament time.  Wyoming loses conference player of the year Josh Adams and new head coach Allen Edwards will look to senior guard Jason McManamen (14.4 ppg) to help guide the squad which features just two seniors.  San Jose State once again faces long odds in its journey for a Mountain West crown.  Sophomore Ryan Welage (10.4 ppg), an Indiana product, will contribute to a squad that lost its veteran leadership in Frank Rogers and Princeton Onwas.

Projected Order of Finish 

1. San Diego State (28-10, 16-2)
2. Nevada (24-14, 10-8)
3. New Mexico (17-15, 10-8)
4. Fresno State (25-10, 13-5)
5. Boise State (20-12, 11-7)
6. Utah State (16-15, 7-11)
7. Colorado State (18-16, 8-10)
8. UNLV (18-15, 8-10)
9. Air Force (14-18, 5-13)
10. Wyoming (14-8, 7-11)
11. San Jose State (9-22, 4-14)

Player of the Year 

Elijah Brown, G Jr. 6-4, 200 New Mexico

Rookie of the Year

William McDowell-White, G 6-5, 185 Fresno State

All-Conference Teams

First Team 
Gian Clavell, Sr. G, Colorado State (6-4, 185)
Elijah Brown, Jr. G, New Mexico (6-4, 200)
Tim Williams, Sr. F, New Mexico (6-8, 240)
Cam Oliver, So. F, Nevada (6-8, 225)
Jalen Moore, Sr. F, Utah State (6-9, 220)
Second Team 
Trey Kell, Jr. G, San Diego State (6-4, 210)
Marcus Marshall, Sr. G, Nevada (6-3, 190)
Jeremy Hemlsey, So. G, San Diego State (6-3, 180)
Shane Rector Jr G, Utah State (6-2, 180)
Zylan Cheatham, So. F, San Diego State (6-9, 215)

Rating the Recruits 

Fresno State – The Bulldogs add to an NCAA tournament resume a season ago with Australian point guard William McDowell-White (6-5, 185). A four star prospect is a huge addition for Fresno State, which is not seen as a destination in recruiting like foes such as UNLV or San Diego State despite success in developing NBA talents like Paul George in recent memory. The class also includes local power forward Bryson Williams from Fresno (6-8, 225).

Nevada – The best recruiting class in the conference belongs to the team from Reno as the Wolfpack bring in a trio of three-star recruits. Houston product guard Josh Hall, who hails from Genesis Academy in Lynchburg, Va., (6-6, 190) is expected to contribute to the pro-style offense run by Eric Musselman. Point guard Devearl Ramsey (5-11, 175), one of Southern California’s top point guards, also committed to Nevada for the 2016 campaign.

UNLV– The Rebels continue a strong tradition of adding those amongst the country’s best as forward Troy Baxter (6-8, 190) from the Rock School in Gainesville, Fla. joins the fray as a last section addition. Baxter, a four-star recruit and consensus top 100 player, had originally committed to South Florida, but requested and was granted release from his national letter of intent.  Joining Baxter in Las Vegas will be center Cheickna Dembele (6-11, 235).  Originally from Mali, Dembele attended high school in Scotland, Pa and also had offers from Iowa State and Saint Joseph’s, among others.

 

Don’t-Miss Games

New Mexico at San Diego State (Jan. 1) – A fierce rivalry between the recent ruling class of the Mountain West comes to Viejas Arena in America’s Finest City.  The nationally televised clash provides a nice change of pass from a holiday full of football. In San Diego last year, the Aztecs prevailed in an overtime thriller, 78-71.

Colorado State at Fresno State (Jan. 18) – The Rams, looking to improve on an 18-16 season a year ago,  travels to defending Mountain West tournament champ Bulldogs for a Wednesday night clash that could serve as a bellwether for a loaded middle of the pack in the conference.

Nevada at UNLV (Feb. 25) – An emerging Nevada squad with sky high expectations travels to Sin City for a rivalry game against the Runnin’ Rebels, a team looking to get back to its usual national prominence after a disappointing campaign in 2015-16.