Mountain West Conference Notebook
by John Eisel
1. Air Force (14-1, 2-0) (LW: 2)
Comment: When do you think the Zoomies will get the credit they deserve?
Last week’s results: Beat BYU 75-59, beat SDSU 65-62.
What we liked: On national television, Air Force beat up a pretty good BYU team. Someone has to have seen it, right?
What we didn’t like: Really, the only complaint is with the Falcons is rebounding, but that’s kind of like complaining that an offensive lineman doesn’t have 4.4 speed.
Star of the week: Dan Nwaele scored 20 points in both games, but he’s just one of four different scorers for the Falcons along with Jacob Burtschi, Antoine Hood and Matt McCraw.
What’s next: at Wyoming Wednesday, 7 p.m.; vs. TCU Saturday, 2 p.m.
2. UNLV (7-6, 1-0) (LW: 5)
Comment: If the Rebels want to be considered conference title contenders, they have to beat teams like Wyoming on the road.
Last week’s results: Won at Wyoming 88-77.
What we liked: Five different players scored in double figures against the Cowboys, including 20 by Louis Amundson.
What we didn’t like: The 3-point shooting was a little off, but besides that, you can’t complain about an 11-point conference win on the road.
Star of the week: With Wyoming trying to retake the lead early in the second half, Louis Amundson took over. He was nearly unstoppable in the first 10 minutes of the second half, on his way to a game-high 20 points as well as eight rebounds.
What’s next: vs. BYU Wednesday, 7 p.m.; at SDSU Saturday, 7 p.m.
3. Brigham Young (9-4, 1-1) (LW: 3)
Comment: Dave Rose has this cast playing a lot better than people thought they would.
Last week’s results: Lost at Air Force 75-59; beat Utah 72-60.
What we liked: Even though perennial power Utah appeared to be down going into conference play, it was an important win for the Cougars because it really validates their record, should give the team confidence and a win over a hated rival is always good, too.
What we didn’t like: Only 13,142 fans for BYU-Utah?
Star of the week: The scary thing about this team is the depth. Keena Young comes off the bench for 16 points and 11 rebounds against Air Force, then Rashaun Broadus scores 17 against the Utes.
What’s next: at UNLV Wednesday, 7 p.m.
4. Colorado State (11-4, 0-2) (LW: 1)
Comment: Don’t jump off the bandwagon. Yet.
Last week’s results: Lost at San Diego State 83-75, lost at New Mexico 83-75
What we liked: Nothing really stands out. But with the conference in such a state of flux this season, these losses might not look so bad down the season.
What we didn’t like: The Rams allowed both the Aztecs and Lobos to make more than 50 percent of their shots, this after holding opponents to less than 40 percent from the field during the pre-conference season. Making up an early big deficit is tough enough at home, let alone on the road.
Star of the week: JUCO transfer Michael Harrison is making his case for MWC newcomer of the year, scoring 21 and 12 points in the first two conference games.
What’s next: vs. Utah Saturday, 2 p.m.
5. San Diego State (8-6, 1-1) (LW: 8)
Comment: This helter-skelter teams is just par for the course for Steve Fisher’s SDSU teams. Have an awful pre-conference season and then go out and almost beat the teams with the two best records going into conference play. The eligibility of Florida transfer Mohamed Abukar has a definite hand in that.
Last week’s results: Beat Colorado State 83-75, lost at Air Force 65-62.
What we liked: It’s not so much that Brandon Heath scored a combined 43 points in the two games. He always gets his points. We’re more impressed with 15-28 shooting performance over the two games.
What we didn’t like: I understand Mohamed Abukar makes a big difference with this team, but that doesn’t justify the team’s pre-conference performance.
Star of the week: So that’s why everyone was picking Mohamed Abukar to be newcomer of the year. He had 22 points against CSU with Marcus Slaughter hurting and an efficient eight points in less playing time against Air Force because of illness.
6. Utah (8-5, 1-1) (LW: 6)
Comment: Inconsistent performances from an inexperienced team that was without senior point guard Tim Drisdom.
Last week’s results: Beat New Mexico 64-49, lost at BYU 72-60
What we liked: The held ground on the home court against New Mexico.
What we didn’t like: The team went a combined 16-31 from the free throw line in the two games. It didn’t decide the outcome of these two games, but it certainly will down the road.
Star of the week: JUCO sharpshooter Johnnie Bryant averaged 18 points in the two games last week.
What’s next: vs. San Diego State Wednesday, 7 p.m.; at Colorado State Saturday, 2 p.m.
7. New Mexico (10-5, 1-1) (LW: 4)
Comment: This team is 10-0 at home, 0-5 away from the Pit.
Last week’s results: Lost at Utah 64-49; beat CSU 83-75.
What we liked: Days after quitting the team, JUCO forward Joel Box changed his mind and said he’ll stick it out. He responded with eight points in nine minutes against the Rams.
What we didn’t like: The 15-point loss to the Utes is troubling. This is not the Utah teams of yesteryear and the Lobos still got defeated soundly, making less than a third of its shots. Unlike their non-conference schedule, the Lobos can’t play all of their games at home.
Star of the week: Mark Walters averaged 18 points in the team’s two games.
What’s next: vs. TCU Wednesday, 9 p.m. (ESPN2); at Wyoming Saturday, 1 p.m.
8. Wyoming (8-7, 1-1 MWC) (LW: 7)
Comment: Well, the Pokes won’t go winless on the road in MWC play.
Last week’s results: Lost to Denver 69-64, lost to UNLV 88-77, won at TCU 68-64
What we liked: With the fans jumping off the bandwagon, especially after two discouraging losses, Wyoming cowboy’d up and found a way to win in Fort Worth.
What we didn’t like: Losing to Denver is not acceptable in Laramie, especially when a good hunk of the ‘road’ crowd is sporting brown and gold.
Star of the week: We had a Jarrod Boswell sighting. After being a ghost his first two seasons, the sophomore had 19 points and 11 rebounds to keep the Pokes out of the MWC cellar.
What’s next: vs. Air Force Wednesday, 7 p.m.; vs. New Mexico Saturday, 1 p.m.
9. TCU (4-11, 0-1) (LW: 9)
Comment: I’m not sure if the Horned Frogs are going to win a conference game.
Last week’s results: Lost to St. Mary’s (Calif.) 65-57, lost to Wyoming 68-64.
What we liked: Chudi Chinweze had season highs in points in the two games as he comes back from major knee surgery.
What we didn’t like: Where do we start? This team has no consistent shooters. In both losses, they were under 40 percent from the field. They dropped two sizeable leads in the second half and their RPI is killing the conference.
Star of the week: Chinweze, who had 17 points, seven rebounds and five blocks against Wyoming.
What’s next: At New Mexico Wednesday, 10 p.m. (ESPN2); at Air Force Saturday, 3 p.m.
