HoopTalk – Arizona on top but Mountain West claims five spots as best league in the region

With the calendar set to turn and conference play about to begin, the Mountain West remains the best league in the western third of the country.

It’s 6-1 in head-to-head matchups against the Pac-12 and 16-6 against the West Coast Conference.

It has five teams with at least 10 wins and five in the top 40 of the NET rankings.

This, with one of the most anticipated matchups looming: San Diego State’s visit to Gonzaga on Friday night (6 p.m. on ESPN2).

If the Aztecs win in Spokane, let there be zero doubt: The Mountain West will reign supreme.

(Note: The Best of the West rankings will be published in this space each Wednesday for the remainder of the regular season.)

1. Arizona (9-2)

Last week: 1
Results: beat Alabama 87-74, lost to FAU 96-95
NET ranking: No. 2
Next up: at Cal (Friday)
Comment: There’s no secret to what derailed the Wildcats in their two losses: Purdue and FAU were 71-of-137 from the field (52 percent). Granted, that’s a high bar for Arizona’s opponents to clear on a regular basis, especially in the Pac-12.

2. Gonzaga (9-3)

Last week: 2
Results: beat Jackson State 100-76
NET ranking: No. 45
Next up: vs. San Diego State (Friday)
Comment: Terrific matchup to wrap up non-conference play — and a critical one, as well. It’s Gonzaga’s last chance to claim its first quality win.

3. Brigham Young (11-1)

Last week: 3
Results: beat Bellarmine 101-59
NET ranking: No. 3
Next up: vs. Wyoming (Saturday)
Comment: Not lost on the Hotline: The Big 12 has six teams in the top 20 of the latest NET rankings, and two conference newcomers, No. 1 Houston and No. 3 BYU, are leading the way.

4. Colorado State (11-1)

Last week: 4
Results: beat LMU 76-67
NET ranking: No. 16
Next up: vs. Adams State (Friday)
Comment: We envision a handful of coaching changes in the Pac-12 this spring. If CSU keeps up its winning ways, Niko Medved could be on several wish lists.

5. Colorado (9-2)

Last week: 5
Results: beat Utah Tech 98-71
NET ranking: No. 34
Next up: vs. Washington (Friday)
Comment: If the Buffaloes hope to seriously challenge Arizona for the Pac-12 regular-season title, they can’t afford to lose more than one game at home and two or three on the road. In other words: They had best sweep the Washington schools.

6. Nevada (12-1)

Last week: 10
Results: beat Temple 80-56, TCU 88-75 and Georgia Tech 72-64
NET ranking: No. 37
Next up: vs. Fresno Pacific (Saturday)
Comment: How does Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year Steve Alford sound?

7. Utah (9-2)

Last week: 6
Results: beat Bellarmine 85-43
NET ranking: No. 25
Next up: vs. Washington State (Friday)
Comment: Utah’s adjusted offensive efficiency ranking last season: 129th (per KenPom.com). Utah’s adjusted offensive efficiency ranking this season: 27th.

8. New Mexico (11-1)

Last week: 7
Results: beat UC Irvine 78-65
NET ranking: No. 35
Next up: vs. Eastern New Mexico (Friday)
Comment: As with Colorado State, the Lobos’ only loss is to Saint Mary’s. In past years, those would have been acceptable results, but the Gaels are struggling with defeats to Missouri State and Weber State.

9. San Diego State (10-2)

Last week: 8
Results: beat Stanford 74-60
NET ranking: No. 29
Next up: at Gonzaga (Friday)
Comment: On the other hand, SDSU’s loss to Grand Canyon looks better this season than it would have in past years and, based on current metrics, won’t hurt the Aztecs’ postseason resume.

10. Utah State (12-1)

Last week: 9
Results: beat ETSU 80-65
NET ranking: No. 40
Next up: at Air Force (Tuesday)
Comment: Of the five teams in the Mountain West with double-digit win totals, Utah State owns the least impressive resume. The Aggies have a loss to Bradley and no victories over power conference opponents.

11. Grand Canyon (11-1)

Last week: 12
Results: beat Sam Houston 76-64 and Bethesda 124-74
NET ranking: No. 41
Next up: vs. Louisiana Tech (Saturday)
Comment: What we said about Colorado State coach Niko Medved as a hot name on the coaching carousel this spring goes for GCU’s Bryce Drew, as well.

12. Washington (8-3)

Last week: Not ranked
Results: beat Eastern Washington 73-66
NET ranking: No. 58
Next up: at Colorado (Friday)
Comment: UW’s losses are to teams with a combined record 33-4 (Nevada, CSU and SDSU) while the list of conquests includes Xavier and Gonzaga. We looked for better options for this spot and found none.

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