Tag Archives: Prentiss Nixon

MW men’s basketball power rankings entering 7th week of conference play

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Here are my weekly power rankings for Mountain West men’s basketball teams heading into this week’s games. RPI numbers are from NCAA.com as of Feb. 4.

  1. No. 23 Nevada (20-4 overall, 9-1 MW, 12 RPI): The Wolf Pack have bounced back well after a loss at Wyoming Jan. 24. Still not a deep team, but also still the best team in the conference. A couple of tough games this week, but they are at home. Games this week: vs. Nevada, 9 p.m. Wednesday (CBS Sports Network); vs. San Diego State, 6 p.m. Saturday (ESPN2).

2. Boise State (19-4, 9-2, 37 RPI): Coach Leon Rice has waded across the Boise River and rode a horse through campus to get people to Taco Bell Arena. It has worked, but he shouldn’t have to do these things because the Broncos are legit. A pair of challenging road games await the Broncos. Games this week: at New Mexico, 8 p.m. Tuesday (ESPNU); at Utah State, 7 p.m. Saturday (AT&T SportsNet).

3. New Mexico (12-12, 7-4, 160 RPI): A short-handed squad lost at Utah State and then struggled to win at San Jose State last week. Still, the Lobos remain in third place in the standings, and in these power rankings. Don’t think anyone saw this coming. Games this week: vs. Boise State, 8 p.m. Tuesday (ESPNU); at Air Force, 2 p.m. Saturday (ESPN3 — online).

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MW men’s basketball power rankings entering the 6th week of conference play

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Here are my weekly power rankings for Mountain West men’s basketball teams heading into this week’s games. Look for these rankings on a weekly basis throughout the conference season. RPI numbers are from NCAA.com as of Jan. 29.

Nevada (18-4 overall, 7-1 MW, 15 RPI): Despite a one-point, double-overtime loss at Wyoming last week that ended a seven-game winning streak, the Wolf Pack stay at No. 1 in these rankings. Will be interesting to see how Nevada bounces back after the loss, and having a week off between games. Games this week: vs. Fresno State, 9 p.m. Wednesday (CBS Sports Network); at Colorado State, 6 p.m. Saturday (ESPNU).

2. Boise State (18-4, 8-2, 42 RPI): The Broncos took care of the bottom two teams in the conference last week. The team is battling an illness bug, but good teams fight through that. Perhaps having just one game this week will give Boise State a chance to get healthier. Game this week: vs. UNLV, 6 p.m. Saturday (CBS Sports Network).

3. New Mexico (11-11, 6-3, 148 RPI): The Lobos are tied with Wyoming for the longest current winning streak in the league at three. First-year coach Paul Weir is making a strong case for coach of the year accolades. Two road games await, which will be another test to see how far this team has come along. Games this week: at Utah State, 7 p.m. Wednesday (MW Network — online); at San Jose State, 4 p.m. Saturday (AT&T SportsNet).

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MW men’s basketball power rankings entering the 5th week of conference play

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Here are my weekly power rankings for Mountain West men’s basketball teams heading into this week’s games. Look for these rankings on a weekly basis throughout the conference season. RPI numbers are from NCAA.com as of Jan. 21.

  1. No. 23 Nevada (18-3 overall, 7-0 MW, 13 RPI): The winning streak is now seven games, and the Wolf Pack hold a two-game lead in the conference standings after a hard-fought wins over Boise State and San Jose State last week. An intriguing road game awaits Nevada. Game this week: at Wyoming, 9 p.m. Wednesday (ESPNU).

2. Boise State (16-4, 6-2, 34 RPI): I’ve given the Broncos the benefit of the doubt after each of their two conference losses because they’re still one of the more complete teams in the MW. And based on the results around the league last week, I can’t see dropping them. Games this week: vs. San Jose State, 8 p.m. Wednesday (AT&T SportsNet); at Air Force, 8 p.m. Saturday (ESPNU).

3. New Mexico (10-11, 5-3, 154 RPI): Huge jump for the Lobos, but they earned it with wins over UNLV and San Diego State last week. Not sure if they will stay this high, in fact, it is doubtful, but first-year coach Paul Weir and his players deserve some kudos for what they accomplished. Game this week: vs. Colorado State, 8 p.m. Saturday (ESPN3 — online).

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Adams got the message, which could benefit Cowboys down the stretch

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Lou Adams started both halves in Wyoming’s 102-100 four-overtime home win over Fresno State last Wednesday, but played only at total of seven minutes.

Lou Adams

Lou Adams

First-year coach Allen Edwards didn’t like the energy Adams showed on the floor, so he didn’t play him when it mattered most.

Adams, a junior guard in his first season with the Cowboys after transferrring from Odessa College in Texas, got the message Edwards was conveying. He scored a team-best 16 points and three steals in 24 minutes in Wyoming’s 81-74 loss at Utah State last Saturday. The points were the most Adams scored in a MW game, and tied for the second-most minutes he’s played in a game this season.

“Lou came out with more energy, but at the same time, it has to be more of a consistent thing,” Edwards said. “He seems to have figured it out, and we will go with that from there.”

Added Adams: “I was just trying to help my team win and do the little things.”

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