Category: San Diego State

Mountain West Basketball Power Rankings: Chasing San Diego State

Mountain West Basketball Power Rankings: Chasing San Diego State San Diego State is our first No. 1, duh. Contact/Follow @MWCwire This is a quick power rankings as it is later in the week and the dates for these games go between Jan. 13 – 19 and …

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Mountain West Basketball Power Rankings: Chasing San Diego State

San Diego State is our first No. 1, duh.

Contact/Follow @MWCwire

This is a quick power rankings as it is later in the week and the dates for these games go between Jan. 13 – 19 and even since then teams ranked high have lost so next week will be a better indicator of who should be ranked in this power poll.

Rank Team Previously
1. San Diego State (10-first place votes) 1st
2. UNLV 2nd
3. Nevada 5th
4. Utah State 3rd
5. New Mexico 4th
6. Colorado State 8th
7. Boise State 7th
8. Air Force 8th
9. Fresno State 9th
10. San Jose State 10th
11. Wyoming 11th

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NCAA Bracketology: Update On San Diego State’s Quest Fo A No. 1 Seed

What’s the national consensus on SDSU’s status as a 1 seed? Contact/Follow @aztecbreakdown. A couple weeks ago I wrote a piece about if San Diego State could possibly get a one seed. With a couple more games out of the way, it’s time to look at it …

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What’s the national consensus on SDSU’s status as a 1 seed?

Contact/Follow @aztecbreakdown.

A couple weeks ago I wrote a piece about if San Diego State could possibly get a one seed. With a couple more games out of the way, it’s time to look at it again.

For those that are unaware, bracketmatrix.com is a website that takes a bunch of bracket projections and puts them all in one place. So far it consists of 96 different experts and websites. These sources all have different methodologies and biases behind them.

For example, some show you what they think the bracket would look like if the season ended today. Others account for likely wins and losses and project what the bracket will look like on Selection Sunday. Neither method is wrong, they just focus on different things. With that, lets see what Bracket Matrix has to say about this years Aztecs team.

As I’m writing this, the Aztecs have an average seed of 1.54, which is fourth best in the nation. So they are projected to be the last 1 seed. The teams above them are Kansas (1.03), Baylor (1.04),  and Gonzaga (1.26). Duke is close on the Aztecs heels, with an average seed of 1.76.

The lowest projection the Aztecs have received is as a 6 seed, with 2 separate sites projecting that.

Despite the Aztecs currently being projected as a 1 seed, as Duke continues to win games I would expect their average to rise, simply due to playing greater competition. That would drop SDSU down to a No. 2 seed.

That is also going on the assumption that San Diego State doesn’t lose a game between now and Selection Sunday. Some of these projections have already factored in a loss or two, so the Aztecs losing a game won’t change all of the predictions. With the quality of competition remaining though, a loss at just about any point would likely take the Aztecs out of the running for a 1 seed.

For Aztec fans, the goal should be to get into the West region, as a top 4 seed. If the Aztecs play in the west region they can play the first weekend in Sacramento, and the second weekend (if they make it that far) in Los Angeles. So a 2 seed in the West region would be better than a 1 seed in any other region. The best case scenario for Aztec fans is for Gonzaga to lose a game or two while SDSU remains undefeated, that way the Aztecs can stay in the West and Gonzaga can play in another region or drop down a seed.

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What Rocky Long Meant To San Diego State

Get to know how Rocky Long transformed San Diego State football.

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What Rocky Long Meant To San Diego State

Long left a lasting legacy with the Aztecs

Contact/Follow @MWCwire

Rocky Long did amazing things.

San Diego State head coach Rocky Long abruptly stepped down recently and a few of our Aztecs writers wrote about what Long meant to this football program and university during his time as arguably the most successful coach in San Diego State history.

Erwin Mendoza

Rocky Long has taken this program to a level of competitiveness that the fanbase has been hungry for since taking over in 2011. Unfortunate to him see leave the program that he has rebuilt.

This author’s favorite moment during his tenure is the 2012 victory on the Smurf Turf at Boise State. After Boise State joining the league in 2011, the Aztecs got their first shot at the national darlings in Boise. Boise State was the 19th ranked team, and here comes the gritty little Aztecs.

In a game that would feature the most polarizing Aztec running back, Adam Muema, and his 127 yards of rushing. The Aztecs played the style of football that would define Rocky Long’s tenure and this last decade: run the ball downhill and trust your stout defense. The Aztecs won that game and it was a tone setter for that program.

Ted McGovern

Rocky Long will be revered as one of San Diego State’s all-time great coaches.  To some, he will be known simply as THE greatest.  To others, he will be recognized as the first Don Coryell- caliber legend.

Long was able to achieve some truly remarkable milestones.  The Chinese say, “failure is the mother of success,” and after Long essentially fired himself from the University of Mexico, he went to work at SDSU as Brady Hoke’s Defensive Coordinator.  Hoke, before departing for the University of Michigan, helped elevate the Aztecs.  Rocky Long did not merely build on that momentum.

Long cemented winning, and turned Aztecs football into an institution where a nine-win season would come to be considered “disappointing.”  He was responsible for three Mountain West Championship victories in a league that powerhouse Boise State calls home. He also managed to deliver the Aztecs to TEN STRAIGHT bowl games- a feat that is simply extraordinary for any program anywhere.  With that, the Aztecs have had an entire decade of winning seasons.  In addition, over the past five seasons, Long handily delivered four 10+ win performances.

Now, he has again elected to exit his position against the wishes of everybody around him.  This may be in no small part to Long’s desire to always do it his way- period.

Long can take credit for SDSU’s monicker “Running Back University” and during his tenure he has turned out several great tailbacks including NCAA all-time career rushing leader Donnel Pumphrey; and Seattle Seahawk Rashaad Penny.  Under his leadership, SDSU was the first football team in NCAA history to produce a 2000-yard running back and a 1000-yard running back in the same season.  Long was big into the running game, and it was no secret to opposing teams that the Aztecs fully intended to go right down the middle.  Long also returned the fullback to key relevance, inspiring other programs rethink the significance of the position.

Long was also a gambler, and it would be an understatement to say he was gutsy.   Most coaches make decisions from the head or gut:  Long drew decisions from the head, gut or groin, making calls that occasionally defied sensibility- sometimes with great results.

He had a very aggressive record of going for fourth-down conversions.  For better or worse on a few occasions, Long risked a game loss by going for a two-point conversion for the win- instead of a near-certain tie into overtime.  The Aztecs lost against Wyoming in 2016 during a game that could have been tied- to Aztec fans’ horror.

Fans lambasted that Long must have had plans after the game and didn’t want it to go into overtime, but this simplified the extreme stress of playing during a heavy snowstorm in Laramie where the 7,215′ elevation had many key players sucking oxygen from tanks in the biting cold.  Laramie may very well be THE harshest environment to play football in the NCAA.  Even with the failed gamble, the Aztecs did gain redemption one month later against Wyoming in the ’16 Mountain West Championship again in Laramie.

Rocky Long put a high premium on expectations for special teams.  Kickers like John Baron II and Matt Araiza brought both distance and Lou Groza- caliber accuracy, which made their production “business as usual,” while Pumphrey, Penny, Damonte Kayzee and Jamaal Washington all managed to impress with kickoff returns for touchdown often a few times per season apiece.

Long’s ultimate signature was and will always be an elite defense.  His unique 3-5-3 formation is now being studied by other universities.  Both Long’s proteges and other programs looking for a better strategy are adopting this aggressive formation.  At the end of this season, SDSU had the #5 ranked defense in the nation- no small feat for a mid-major university.

It manifested through a combination of powerful line defense forcing tackles for loss- not just sacks; a stellar secondary disruption and interception game, and an expectation that defense needed to contribute points in the game.  In a 2016 game against Cal, where seasoned grad-transfer quarterback Davis Love threw for 522 yards, the Aztecs’ scoring defense was the difference-maker. Momentum transforming pic-sixes definitely put the Aztecs over the top.

While Rocky Long was a supremely talented coach-commander, other programs well understood that money wasn’t his primary motivator.  Otherwise UCLA and other struggling and wealthy programs would have poached him long ago.

It was also evident after games that Long is a coach’s coach.  He was beloved in the Mountain West (except by Bryan Harsin) and his progress has been seen as a model for Mountain West coaches in emerging programs.  When he lost he always lost graciously, never showing bitterness.  At the same time, he was horrendously feared in the Pac-12, where he steered the Aztecs to a 5-1 record over the last four seasons against Cal, Arizona State, Stanford and UCLA.

In fact, during early 2018, San Diego State was jokingly ranked #4 in the conference by the Pac-12. Rocky Long embodies the essence of what it is to be a football coach, and it is an absolute certainty that his coaching legacy will live on in the players and coaches who had the great privilege of being in his ranks.

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Mountain West Wire’s Player of The Year Watch List: Week Eleven

San Diego State’s Malachi Flynn is shooting up our player of the year watch list.

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Who is in the running for Player of the Year?

Take A Look At the Best Performances Around the Mountain West In Week Eleven

Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire

The list sees a pair of newcomers as UNLV sophomore duo make a splash along with San Diego State big man.

The staff at the Mountain West Wire wanted to do something a little different this year. We are going to keep track of the top performers from teams around the Mountain West throughout the year and vote on who had the best performances that week. 

How it works description now at the bottom of the article

The order for the eleventh week is as follows:

1. Malachi Flynn, junior guard San Diego State (5 Points)

22 Points, 5 Rebounds and 2 Assists against Fresno State

14 Points, 7 Assists and 5 Rebounds against Nevada

Flynn is separating himself from the pack in late January, with a now 7 point lead over second place JaQuan Lyle who is in a bit of a situation at a struggling New Mexico. A lot of people knew Flynn was going to be a difference maker for the Aztecs, but even I can say I didn’t expect a top-5 ranking, undefeated record through nineteen games and a chance at a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament this year.

His role as a leader on this team has made everyone better around him, seeing the emergence of guys like Yanni Wetzell and Matt Mitchell on the court with Flynn at the helm has been key to the Aztecs undefeated run. Even when things aren’t going exactly right he makes the best of his playing time. Though he struggled from the field a bit on Saturday, shooting about 30% on the night. He made sure his presence was felt, distributing the ball well among the Aztecs on his way to 7 assists and a win against a Wolf Pack team who made things interesting most of the way.

The Player of the Year race is his to win or lose at this point as Flynn has the Aztecs on a level most other Mountain West teams cannot get to at this point in the season. The Aztecs just need to make sure if they do suffer a loss in conference play it is from the right team. A bad loss can only hurt their chance at a No. 1 seed and San Jose State is looking for another upset to add to their win column, and the Spartans almost made that happen in Viejas Arena earlier this season. We can only watch and wait as the month of January is almost over and March is on the Horizon.

2. Marvin Coleman, sophomore guard UNLV (4 Points):

17 Points, 8 Assists and 4 Rebounds against San Jose State

11 Points, 12 Rebounds, 11 Assists and 6 Steals against New Mexico

3. Bryce Hamilton, sophomore guard UNLV (3 Points):

16 Points, 3 Assists and 2 Steals against San Jose State

35 Points, 3 Rebounds and 1 Assist against New Mexico

4.  Sam Merrill, senior guard Utah State (2 Points):

12 Points, 8 Rebounds and 8 Assists against Nevada

30 Points, 3 Rebounds and 3 Assists against Boise State

5. Yanni Wetzell, senior forward San Diego State (1 Point):

17 Points, 6 Rebounds, 2 Assists against Fresno State

17 Points, 16 Rebounds and 2 Blocks against Nevada

Past Weeks:

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3| Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9| Week 10

Current Overall Point Totals:

Malachi Flynn, junior guard San Diego State (22 Points)

JaQuan Lyle, senior guard UNM (15 Points)

Derrick Alston Jr, junior guard BSU (14 Points)

Sam Merrill, senior guard USU (13 Points)

Jalen Harris, junior guard Nevada (11 Points)

Jazz Johnson, senior guard Nevada (9 Points)

Nico Carvacho, senior center CSU (7 Points)

Hunter Maldonado, sophomore guard Wyoming (7 Points)

Alphonso Anderson, junior guard USU (5 Points)

Carlton Bragg Jr., senior forward New Mexico (5 Points)

Bryce Hamilton, sophomore guard UNLV (5 Points)

Lindsey Drew, senior guard Nevada (5 Points)

Justinian Jessup, senior guard Boise State (5 Points)

Seneca Knight, sophomore guard San Jose State (5 Points)

Justin Bean, sophomore forward USU (4 Points)

Marvin Coleman, sophomore guard UNLV (4 Points)

Amauri Hardy, junior guard UNLV (4 Points)

Orlando Robinson, freshman forward Fresno State (4 Points)

David Roddy, freshman guard Colorado State (4 Points)

Isaiah Stevens, freshman guard Colorado State (4 Points)

Roderick “RJ” Williams, senior forward Boise State (3 Points)

Corey Manigault, senior forward New Mexico (2 Points)

Jordan Schakel, junior guard SDSU (2 Points)

Donnie Tillman, junior forward UNLV (2 Points)

Abu Kigab, junior forward Boise State (1 Point)

Ryan Swan, senior center Air Force (1 Point)

Yanni Wetzell, senior forward San Diego State (1 Point)

How It Works: 

Each person will award 15 points in total to five players and should award it as so:

1st place (Player of the week): 5 pts

2nd place: 4 pts

3rd place: 3 pts

4th place: 2 pts

5th place: 1 pt

The player with the most points total will be our player of the week and we will keep track of the point totals every week so that the player who has the most at the end of the year will receive the Mountain West Wire Player of the Year award. Just copy the players below and type your names above it like we do for the pick them docs we get and award your points. 

Now some guys made the list and others didn’t. A big thing to think about was consistency throughout the week. Something that hurt some guys was having a decent game one day and a bad one the other day. Guys who made the list had a great game one day and a good one on other days, or good games both days.

This column will come out on Sunday nights or Monday mornings depending on how late some games finish on Sundays. 

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College Basketball Rankings: San Diego State Is Now A Top Five Team

San Diego State has achieved its highest ranking ever.

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College Basketball Rankings: San Diego State Is Now A Top Five Team

Aztecs have its highest ranking in nearly a decade.

Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire

No. 4 team in the country.

San Diego State keeps on winning and they are shooting up the rankings and are one step closer to finishing with an undefeated regular season. The Aztecs are No. 4 in both coaches and Associated Press top 25 polls, plus KenPom gives them a 20.9 percent chance of going undefeated.

The Aztecs are standing as the last undefeated team in college basketball after Auburn’s loss last week. In the coaches poll, San Diego State is just three points behind Kansas for third. It also should be noted that the Jayhawks were seventh last week and moved up four spots after toppling Texas and Oklahoma. So, there is still some big conference bias compared to what the Aztecs accomplish.

This No. 4 ranking is the highest in either poll since the 2010-11 year which saw San Diego State also peak with a No. 4 ranking. The swing of votes is No. 2 through No. 9 for the Aztecs in the AP poll with the majority slotting thema at No. 4.

The only way it seems for San Diego State to climb higher in the polls is by other teams above them losing and the Aztecs keep on winning.

AP Poll

1. Baylor
2. Gonzaga
3. Kansas
4. San Diego State
5. Florida State
6. Louisville
7. Dayton
8. Duke
9. Villanova
10. Seton Hall
11. Michigan State
12. Oregon
13. Butler
14. West Virginia
15. Kentucky
16. Auburn
17. Maryland
18. Texas Tech
19. Iowa
20. Memphis
21. Illinois
22. Arizona
23. Colorado
24. Rutgers
25. Houston

USA Today Coaches Poll

1. Gonzaga
2. Baylor
3. Kansas
4. San Diego State
5. Louisville
6. Florida State
7. Dayton
8. Duke
9. Michigan State
10. Seton Hall
11. Villanova
12. Butler
13. Oregon
14. Kentucky
15. West Virginia
16. Auburn
17. Maryland
18. Texas Tech
19. Iowa
20. Memphis
21. Arizona
22. Wichita State
23. Illinois
24. Houston
25. Rutgers

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San Diego State withstands early surge from Nevada, remains undefeated

San Diego State is still unblemished this year.

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The Wolfpack came out strong, but the Aztecs defense won out.

Contact/Follow  @aztecbreakdown & @MWCwire

On Saturday night the 18-0 San Diego State Aztecs put their undefeated streak (and MAP) on the line when they faced the 11-7 Nevada Wolf Pack. Nevada tried to break a streak of never winning a game in Viejas since joining the Mountain West Conference.

Early in the game Nevada seemed to be disturbed by the Aztecs defense, having 7 turnovers in the first 8 minutes. They settled in however, only committing one turnover in the last 12 minutes of the half. They managed to keep the game close and even take the lead in the first half, heading to the locker rooms ahead 35-33. The Wolf Pack shot the three-ball at a 54% clip in route to that lead.

That rate turned out to be unsustainable though, as the Aztecs came out swinging in the second half. They blitzed the Wolf Pack to the tune of a 7-0 run to open the half. The Wolfpack managed to tie the game at 40 a piece, but was never able to take the lead.

Nevada was held to 20 points on four made shots in the second half, with two of those shots coming in garbage time. The Aztecs clamped down on defense and never let up.

The final score was 68-55 Aztecs, and it wasn’t as close as it looks. The Aztecs committed a few turnovers and silly fouls once their bench went in over the last few minutes which let Nevada make some free throws to tighten the gap, even though the outcome was never in question.

Next up the Aztecs play Wyoming in Viejas, and a win will tie the 2010-2011 team for the best start an Aztec team has ever had. 

Next up for Nevada is a red hot UNLV team at home. Nevada is currently in a three way tie for 3rd place in the conference, with UNLV in second. A win would help close that gap.

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Utah State at Boise State Game Preview, TV, Radio Schedule, Livestream, Odds, More

Utah State at Boise State: Game Preview, TV, Radio Schedule, Livestream, Odds, More The Aggies will look to continue their climb back to the top against the Broncos Contact/Follow @MWCwire Can the Aggies beat Boise on the road? WHO: USU vs Boise …

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Utah State at Boise State: Game Preview, TV, Radio Schedule, Livestream, Odds, More

The Aggies will look to continue their climb back to the top against the Broncos

Contact/Follow @MWCwire

Can the Aggies beat Boise on the road?

WHO: USU vs Boise State

WHEN: Saturday, January 18 — 8:00 MST

WHERE: ExtraMile Arena: Boise, ID

TV: ESPNU

STREAM: Get a one-week trial of FuboTV.

RADIO: 1280 the  Zone

ODDS: USU – 2.0

After a week off, Utah State will look to get back in the swing of things against the Boise State Broncos.  As the Mountain West currently sits, Utah State and Boise State both sit in the middle of the pack at 6th and 8th place respectively.  Boise State is coming off a loss against Air Force on Wednesday night while the Aggies are coming off a win against Nevada last Saturday.

Boise State is led in scoring by junior guard, Derrick Alston.  Up to this point Alston is averaging nearly 20 points a game while pulling down 5 rebounds and dishing out 3 assists.  Alston posted a season high of 31 points against Alabama State early this season.  This will prove to be a key matchup for the Aggies as Alston stands at 6’9”.  Although they are touted as one of the tallest teams in the nation, Utah State does not have many weapons that are physically similar to Alston which could prove to be a big advantage for the Broncos.

Another Bronco to keep your eye on is senior forward, RJ Williams.  As the leading rebounder for the Broncos, snagging over 8 a game, Williams is a force to be reckoned with on the glass.  He also averages nearly 12 points a game.  Justinian Jessup is the second leading scorer for the Broncos averaging nearly 15 points per game.  Abu Kigab is another Bronco to keep your eye on as he can also score the rock, averaging 14 points per game.

As always Utah State will be led by senior guard, Sam Merrill.  Merill has struggled from the field over the past few games, but has been able to get to the free throw line.  Look for him to keep up his aggressive style of play.  Merrill is averaging nearly 17 points per game while shooting an abysmal 34% over the past four games.  To his credit, as the reigning MWC player of the year each team will put together an extensive game plan on how to stop him.

Freshman Sean Bairstow saw an increase of minutes against Air Force and Nevada.  The 6’8” Australian native played a big role in the Aggies win over Nevada a week ago.  Keep your eye out for Bairstow.  Big man, Neemias Queta had his best game of the season last week against Nevada.  The big man from Portugal netted 19 points and grabbed 7 rebounds.  The Aggies will need his play to keep improving throughout the remainder of the season.

This should be a fun game to watch.  Boise State always protects their home court and Utah State has had trouble on the road this season.  It will be interesting to see who steps up for their respective teams.

 

 

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Nevada Vs #7 San Diego State: Game Preview, TV, Radio Schedule, Livestream, Odds, More

Nevada Vs #7 San Diego State: Game Preview, TV, Radio Schedule, Livestream, Odds, More The Wolf Pack are looking for the upset as they travel to face #7 San Diego State Contact/Follow @BrandonGBlake & @MWCwire Can Nevada Hand #7 San Diego State …

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Nevada Vs #7 San Diego State: Game Preview, TV, Radio Schedule, Livestream, Odds, More

The Wolf Pack are looking for the upset as they travel to face #7 San Diego State

Contact/Follow @BrandonGBlake & @MWCwire

Can Nevada Hand #7 San Diego State Their First Loss Of The Season?

WHO: Nevada (11-7, 4-2 Mountain West) vs. # 7 San Diego State (18-0, 7-0 Mountain West)

WHEN: Saturday, January 18 — 5:00 PM PT

WHERE: Viejas Arena; San Diego, California

TV: CBS Sports Network

STREAM: Get a one-week trial of FuboTV.

RADIO: Radio link for Nevada | Radio link for San Diego State

SERIES RECORD: San Diego State leads 17-6

ODDS:Not Available

The Nevada Wolf Pack are heading down to San Diego where they will take on the San Diego State Aztecs on Saturday. The tip off between the Wolf Pack and the Aztecs is scheduled for 5pm and will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.

The Wolf Pack return to action after coming off a close victory at home over Wyoming on Tuesday night. Nevada’s Jalen Harris scored on a driving layup with nine seconds left in the game to propel the Wolf Pack to victory over the Cowboys 68-67.

Unlike when Nevada lost to San Jose State on January 9th when Nevada struggled to make key plays against the Spartans, the Wolf Pack led by Jalen Harris, Nisre Zouzua and Jazz Johnson made big plays late to contribute to the Wolf Pack’s win over Wyoming. 

Nevada will need those big plays on Saturday when they take on the #7 San Diego State Aztecs. The Aztecs are the only remaining unbeaten team in the nation with an 18-0 overall record after they defeated Fresno State 64-55 on Tuesday night.

The Aztecs once again boast a stifling defense this season as they lead the Mountain West in scoring defense giving up an average of 56.9 points per game. The Aztecs also lead the conference in field goal percentage defense at 36.9 percent and are second in the conference in 3PT field goal defense as they are giving up only 26.7 percent per game.

The Aztec player to watch for in this contest is guard Malachi Flynn, the Washington State transfer leads the team and the Mountain West in points and assists as he is averaging 16.6 points per game and 4.9 assists per game. 

The Aztecs are one of the elite teams in college basketball this season and are once again a formidable opponent with their tough defense. Nevada will have their hands full in trying to defeat San Diego State and secure their first ever win at Viejas Arena on Saturday afternoon.

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Mountain West Football: Top Ten Single-Game Performances Of The 2019 Season

Warren Jackson, Luq Barcoo, and David Woodward were among our choices for the most monster games of the 2019 Mountain West football season.

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Mountain West Football: Top Ten Single-Game Performances Of The 2019 Season

Which players had the most monster games of the 2019 season in the Mountain West Conference?

Contact/Follow @MattK_FS & @MWCwire

Big performances deserve big props.

Football is a team sport but, every so often, things break in such a way that one man can take over and change the course of a contest. The Mountain West is no exception in this regard, so as we continue looking back at the season that was, those dominant individual performances deserve a little time in the spotlight.

Here are the ten best single-game performances from a Mountain West player in 2019.

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10. October 26, 2019 – Wyoming’s Xazavian Valladay is the Cowboys’ blunt instrument of choice vs. Nevada

2019 was Valladay’s opportunity to exemplify just what Cowboys football is all about and the Wolf Pack found him in rare form. Though his only touchdown came courtesy of a Sean Chambers pass to open the scoring, Nevada had no answer on his 28 touches all afternoon, coughing up 280 yards of total offense.

9. October 11, 2019 – Colorado State wide receiver Warren Jackson basically catches everything vs. New Mexico

The Rams’ leading receiver proved to be a nightmare for just about every defender unlucky enough to draw him this fall, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the Lobos still wake up in a sweat after his performance against them. Jackson caught nine passes for 214 yards and two touchdowns, his best numbers in a four-game stretch where he topped 100 receiving yards.

8. November 23, 2019 – Air Force quarterback Donald Hammond III goes HAM through the air vs. New Mexico

The Falcons had a special season and Hammond III was one of the most obvious reasons why, but he was never better than when he put up the kind of passing numbers we hadn’t seen from an Air Force quarterback in roughly 40 years. None of his touchdown throws were gimmes, either, coming from 27, 46, 59, and 76 yards against the Lobos. Add in a rushing touchdown, which made him one of just three Mountain West players with five total touchdowns in a game this fall, and it’s an easy inclusion here.

7. November 2, 2019 – Boise State running back George Holani takes over to help escape San Jose State

There weren’t a lot of teams in 2019 who gave the Broncos fits quite like upstart San Jose State, but the freshman Holani made sure there wouldn’t be an upset. After collecting just 20 yards and a short touchdown in the first half, Holani scored three more times and finished with 143 yards of total offense.

6. November 9, 2019 – Hawaii quarterback Chevan Cordeiro oversees a flawless offense against San Jose State

You never knew what you were going to see when you stayed up late for Warriors football and, against the Spartans, it happened that neither offense could be stopped… literally. Cordeiro, the redshirt freshman, outdueled Spartans quarterback Josh Love by engineering a scoring drive every time his Hawaii offense had the ball.

The result? Five total touchdowns — three through the air and two on the ground — and 364 yards of total offense. Whew.

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Mountain West Basketball Transfer Game: Where Are They Now?

Where did some of your favorite players end up? In short the AAC, AEC, Big East, Big Sky, Big Ten, Big West C-USA, Division 2 & 3, Horizon, MAAC, MAC, MEAC, MVC, NAIA, NJCAA, PAC-12, RMAC, SEC, Southland, Summit, SWAC, WAC Contact/Follow …

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Where did some of your favorite players end up? 

In short the AAC, AEC, Big East, Big Sky, Big Ten, Big West C-USA, Division 2 & 3, Horizon, MAAC, MAC, MEAC, MVC, NAIA, NJCAA, PAC-12, RMAC, SEC, Southland, Summit, SWAC, WAC 

Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire

What are past Mountain West Players up to this season?

College basketball’s allure comes with its many different facets and components. Things like recruiting, geographic rivalries and a tournament that produces Cinderella-like stories for underdog schools in the nooks and crannies of this great country, it’s all so great.

But there are also some things we would consider changing if left up to us, like maybe an expanded tournament field (maybe), better metrics for grading tournament teams, hardship waivers have been an issue and NCAA rulings when it comes to eligibility. Sometimes you take what you can get, but an aspect of college basketball that always comes with mixed emotions is the transferring of players. This is something that can go either way for fans as we get excited when our teams bring guys in but wish others would have stayed (for the most part).

Now guys transfer for a multitude of reasons and fans should never hold grudges against 18-24-year-old individuals who at the end of the day have the right to look for the best opportunity for themselves. Some guys get buried on the bench by increased depth, move to be closer to home or find opportunities at larger institutions where they can play against a higher level of talent on television on a weekly basis. It’s okay, and remember these things happen.

There are also coaching changes that occur in every conference across the country, which bring a level of turnover inside a program that can only be matched by corporate takeovers. Never the less if you are like me and glance at box scores, check-in on the occasional American East game, notice offers to familiar names on JUCO sites or find yourself genuinely curious asking yourself questions like, “what happened to that guy?” or “I wonder how he is doing?”, then this list is for you.

There are other former Mountain West players out their with college eligibility but this list aims at finding the guys with a nice internet trail and letting you know how they’re doing on their new team.

Things to note:

  • There may be a few transfers out there sitting out the 2019-2020 season due to transfer rules. These guys won’t be reflected here, that’s a topic for another day.
  • If a player still has college eligibility but maybe stopped playing college basketball all together or their trail ran cold, they aren’t listed below.
  • If a player is still playing but was dismissed from a team and didn’t transfer, they were also left off of this list.
  • Lastly you won’t see guys who left teams to turn pro with college eligibility still remaining either.

Now let’s get to it.

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