Tag: SDSU

Unpacking Future Packers: No. 50, SDSU RB Isaiah Davis

Up next in the Unpacking Future Packers draft preview series is South Dakota State running back Isaiah Davis.

The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2024 NFL draft.

During the past two NFL drafts, Brian Gutekunst has turned to the FCS level for offensive talent. In the 2022 draft, Green Bay’s general manager traded up in the second round to snag North Dakota State wide receiver Christian Watson. During last year’s draft, Gutekunst selected South Dakota State tight end Tucker Kraft in the third round.

Isaiah Davis is an FCS offensive player who the Packers could target on Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft. The SDSU running back checks in at No. 50 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown. 

A Missouri native, Davis rushed for 818 yards and 10 touchdowns during the 2020 campaign. The following season he rushed for 701 yards and seven touchdowns. 

During SDSU’s national championship season in 2022, Davis rushed for 1,451 yards and 15 touchdowns. Davis helped the Jackrabbits repeat this past season when he rushed for 1,578 yards and 18 touchdowns.

“He was extremely productive,” Robbie Rouse, the SDSU running backs coach, said. “The offense ran through him.”

Davis is a battering ram between the tackles. He’s a hard-nosed runner, who is tough to get to the ground. He drives through arm tackles and looks to dish out punishment on any defender who stands in his way.

Davis has a strong lower half and keeps his feet driving at contact. According to Pro Football Focus, Davis picked up 936 yards after contact and forced 80 missed tackles. 

“Davis is very powerful and strong,” Rouse said. “He has a willingness not to go down easily. His feet are so nifty that doesn’t allow defenders to get clean shots on him.”

Davis has a good feel for the zone and runs with good tempo. The former Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year has quick feet and scoots through the hole with burst, showcasing the necessary vision to excel at the next level. 

“His greatest strength is his feet,” Rouse said. “You typically don’t see feet like that on bigger backs. His contact balance and his vision are very elite as well.”

Over the past two seasons, Davis recorded 44 receptions for 372 yards and one touchdown. He’s a dependable target out of the backfield, with large hands. It’s part of his game that could take off at the next level. 

“This is what I was most impressed by when I first started coaching here,” Rouse said. Davis runs good routes and has very soft hands.”

Davis brings a semblance of special teams value. He has limited experience returning kicks (seven) and punts (three). 

Fit with the Packers

Davis was extremely productive over the past two seasons for the Jackrabbits and played a pivotal role in helping SDSU win back-to-back National Championships. 

The Jackrabbit running back is a well-put-together running back, who is capable of picking up the tough yards between the tackles, but also capable of ripping off chunk plays due to his hard-charging running style. This past season, Davis recorded 54 runs of 10-plus yards and 25 runs of 15-plus yards. 

“Davis checks off all the boxes,” Rouse said. “He is a great young man on and off the field. When you combine that with elite talent, you have a special player on your hands.”

With Josh Jacobs and AJ Dillon on the roster, Davis wouldn’t necessarily provide a different look for defenses. Having said that, Dillon is back on a one-year deal. His presence likely won’t stop the Packers from adding a talented back like Davis. 

The Packers have six picks on Day 3 and one of those picks could be spent on the well-rounded SDSU running back. 

Unpacking Future Packers: No. 77, SDSU OL Mason McCormick

Up next in the Unpacking Future Packers draft preview series is South Dakota State offensive lineman Mason McCormick.

The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2024 NFL draft.

In back-to-back NFL drafts, Brian Gutekunst has added a pair of FCS talents. Green Bay’s general manager added Christian Watson in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft and followed that up by selecting Tucker Kraft in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. 

Gutekunst could go back to the FCS pool during the 2024 NFL Draft by adding Mason McCormick. The South Dakota State interior offensive lineman checks in at No. 77 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.

McCormick, a Sioux Falls native, finished his career at SDSU with 57 straight starts at left guard. McCormick played a key role in helping the Jackrabbits win back-to-back national championships.

“Mason has always been one of the hardest workers in our program,” Ryan Olson, the offensive line coach for SDSU, said. “His attitude and consistency on a daily basis has brought out the best in his teammates. Obviously, the tape and what he gave us on the field speaks for itself.”

McCormick has quick feet and stays balanced in his setup. He plays with a low center of gravity and has a strong upper body. He has a high football IQ and keeps his head on a swivel. He has powerful hands and stops pass rushers in their tracks. According to Pro Football Focus, McCormick gave up zero sacks and just three pressures this past season.

“His athletic gifts in terms of body control, light feet and natural balance are elite,” Olson said. “But in addition to that, he’s the type of player who always has a pre-snap plan. He studies the guy across from him and knows what to be ready for. He’s a cerebral player.”

McCormick is a mauling run blocker and stays underneath blocks. He plays with a ton of violence and keeps his legs driving at contact to create movement and open up running lanes. 

“He has a ton of twitch and suddenness, but beyond that, he is a finisher and has an edge,” Olson said. “He plays with a high level of violence and he wants to finish on every play.”

During his time in Brookings, McCormick logged 3,375 snaps at left guard, 15 snaps at center and 19 snaps at right guard. He took reps at center during the East-West Shrine Bowl practices and looked more than comfortable. A transition to center is something that Olson believes McCormick could handle with ease. 

“Without question,” Olson said. “I’ve allowed him to do any and all drill work while snapping the ball. He’s taken center reps in practice. He will get comfortable there quickly. As far as the mental part of it, he’s set our protections and run counts here for the last two years from the guard spot. He’s used to running the show.”

Fit with the Packers

The Packers need to add depth along the interior of the offensive line and could be in the market for a guard to battle Sean Rhyan for the starting right guard position. 

McCormick is battle-tested and could step in on day one to challenge Rhyan for starting reps. Even if he didn’t earn a starting role as a rookie he’d provide much-needed depth at guard and center. 

With his short-area quickness, his toughness and IQ, McCormick has the makings of a player that could carve out a 10-year career. Plug him in at guard or center and he likely would never give the job back. 

“He is a phenomenal competitor,” Olson said. “He doesn’t lose often but when he does, he can hit reset and play the next play. He is as mentally tough and resilient as they come. He’s a tireless worker. You won’t find a more intelligent offensive linemen in the draft class. He makes everyone around him better.”

The Packers have had a ton of success finding quality offensive linemen on Day 3 of the draft. If McCormick is still on the board when the Packers are on the clock in the fourth round, it would be hard to pass up the opportunity to add a player with his experience, intelligence and intangibles. 

Unpacking Future Packers: No. 10, SDSU TE Tucker Kraft

Up next in the Unpacking Future Packers draft preview series is South Dakota State tight end Tucker Kraft.

The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2023 NFL draft.

Help needed. That’s the sign hanging above the tight-end room at 1265 Lombardi Avenue. As it stands right now, Josiah Deguara and Tyler Davis are sitting atop the tight-end depth chart for the Green Bay Packers. It’s a duo that’s combined for 48 career receptions. 

Luckily for the Packers, the 2023 NFL Draft is loaded with talented tight ends. A tight end that Brian Gutekunst could target in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft is Tucker Kraft. The South Dakota State tight end checks in at No. 10 in the Unpacking Future Packers countdown.

A running back at Timber Lake High School, Kraft burst onto the scene for the Jackrabbits in 2021, when he caught 65 passes for 780 yards and six touchdowns. This past season, Kraft missed six games due to an ankle injury he suffered against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the season-opener. Kraft finished the season with 27 receptions for 348 yards and three touchdowns while helping SDSU win the FCS National Championship. 

Kraft is a complete tight end. He’s a natural pass catcher and in SDSU’s run-first offense, Kraft is an exceptional blocker. He lined up in-line and in the slot while he was in Brookings. At 6-4, 254 pounds, Kraft looks every bit the part of an NFL tight end. There is a reason why he’s considered to be a Top 64 prospect. 

“His “dual threat” abilities as a tight end,” Sam Herder, the senior FCS analyst for HERO Sports said. “It’s hard to categorize Kraft as a pass-catching tight end or a run-blocking tight end because he’s so good at both. He is athletic enough to split out into the slot to create a mismatch, but also has the size and strength to be an extension of the offensive line in the run game.”

With his reliable hands and body control, he has natural pass-catching skills. He’s a big target to work the middle of the field. He has the speed to threaten the seam. He’s able to catch the ball in stride and quickly turn upfield to become a YAC threat. For a man his size, he shows good burst in and out of his breaks. He’s comfortable with making defenders on his hip. 

“The biggest thing is that he has excellent hands,” Herder said. “He can make all the catches, whether it’s sitting in a zone and catching a big third-and-six pass, or running down the seam on a play-action look and catching the ball in stride for an explosive play.” 

The former high school running back has above-average athleticism for the position and it’s on display when he has the ball in space. He has good contact balance and is able to run through arm tackles.  With his size and speed (4.62 40), he can be a load to take down for defensive backs. He creates chunk plays after the catch.  According to Pro Football Focus, Kraft racked up 614 yards after the catch over the past two seasons, including 406 in 2021.

“He’s a very smooth athlete for his size and has great body control,” Herder said. “He’s faster than expected in the open field, and he doesn’t lumber either. There are many plays when SDSU has hit Kraft over the middle and he makes a great catch, keeps his feet, and turns a 10-yard catch into a 30-yard gain.”

Kraft is eager to get after it as a blocker. At contact, he keeps his legs driving and creates movement in the run game. 

“You’re going to have to block to be a tight end at SDSU, and Kraft’s impact there was significant,” Herder said. “He was one of the best blocking tight ends in the FCS.  

Fit with the Packers

The Packers need an infusion of talent at tight end. If the Packers miss out on Michael Mayer, Dalton Kincaid, Luke Musgrave, or Darnell Washington, Kraft would be a nice consolation prize. 

“As an FCS follower, there are just some guys you know are going to be good NFL players even when it takes a bit for prospect rankings to get there,” Herder said. “Dallas Goedert, Troy Andersen, and Christian Watson are some examples. I get that same sense with Kraft, where I’m surprised he isn’t getting more first-round or second-round consideration. I think even as a round-three pick, he’s going to be a steal. Kraft’s physical traits will make him an immediate impact player in the NFL. I also think his work ethic and confidence will translate to his pro success.”

In the 2022 NFL Draft, the Packers traded up in the second round to select NDSU wide receiver, Christian Watson. Injuries slowed Watson’s impact during his rookie season. When he was on the field he proved to be a dynamic playmaker for the Packers.

Fast forward to the 2023 NFL Draft and the Packers could dip their toes back into the FCS talent pool to improve the tight end room by selecting Kraft in the second round. 

The SDSU tight end is the complete package. He’s an explosive weapon in the passing game and he’s a sound blocker. 

Kraft could have a Dallas Goedert-like impact during his rookie season (30-40 receptions for 350-450 yards and four to six touchdowns) and in the long-term he could have a career arc, just like the former SDSU tight end. For a team that needs impact players at tight end, Kraft would be a solid selection in the second round. 

[lawrence-related id=92553,92524,92463,92443,92417]

5 photos that perfectly capture Lamont Butler’s buzzer-beater against FAU

Lamont Butler is magic

If you haven’t seen the shot Lamont Butler hit at the buzzer to send San Diego State to the national championship game on Monday night go ahead and get familiar with it now.

It’ll go down as one of the more iconic shots in men’s NCAA tournament history. Right up there with Mario Chalmers, Kris Jenkins, Christian Laettner and Jalen Suggs.

We’ll be watching it again and again for years to come.

But before the replay gets lodged in our memories forever, take a look at Butler’s magic from a few different angles and bask in all the March Madness glory.

More College Basketball

San Diego State’s Lamont Butler narrowly avoided stepping out of bounds before his buzzer-beater

That buzzer-beater was *this* close to never happening.

The first game of the Final Four ended in a thrilling victory for San Diego State as Lamont Butler nailed a remarkable buzzer-beater.

After SDSU head coach Brian Dutcher opted not to use their final timeout, Butler was trusted to make the right play. The guard took the ball down the floor in transition, dribbled near the baseline, and showed stellar footwork as the clock continued ticking.

Butler very nearly stepped out of bounds once on the baseline and if he had moved his right foot an extra inch, SDSU’s season would have come to a sad close due to a turnover. Instead, he was able to make his way to the midrange and nail the shot.

This is one of those shots that will go down in the March Madness history books, but it’s even crazier when you realize that it nearly didn’t happen.

Take a look at this angle and you will see exactly how close it was:

My heart is pounding just looking at that video!

Congratulations to Butler on using all 94 feet of the court and all 50 feet of the baseline, because my goodness, that was a close call.

[pickup_prop id=”32899″]

[lawrence-related id=2037207,2036270,2034889,2031366,2027851]

Alabama advances to Sweet 16 by defeating Maryland, 73-51

Alabama will take on San Diego State in the Sweet 16 after dominating Maryland in the Round of 32.

Alabama men’s basketball defeated Maryland in the Round of 32 with a final score of 73-51. The Crimson Tide advances to the Sweet 16 to face off against the Aztecs of San Diego State.

The contest began with Maryland holding a small lead for nearly 15 minutes. At one point, minutes went by without each team making a field goal. At the half, the Tide were only up by five.

In the second half, however, Alabama came out making shots and never seemed to let up. That five-point lead at the half grew to 22.

Freshman star Brandon Miller scored 19 points, which is stellar considering he put up a total of zero against Texas A&M CC. He wasn’t the leading scorer for Alabama, though. Jahvon Quinerly managed to score 22 points. Charles Bediako led the team in rebounds with 10.

Alabama will take on San Diego State on Friday, March 24.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1]

[lawrence-auto-related count=1]

[mm-video type=video id=01gtma4ffh0r6pcpxbxp playlist_id=01eqbz6mkdd99nyvkm player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gtma4ffh0r6pcpxbxp/01gtma4ffh0r6pcpxbxp-a21135627d608f92e426940d2d82a59f.jpg]

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on Twitter @SpurrFM.

Jordan Schakel: ‘I’m a winning player. I don’t accept losing’

Jordan Schakel, a sharpshooting wing from the San Diego State Aztecs, could be one of the biggest sleepers in the 2021 NBA draft.

Jordan Schakel, a sharpshooting wing from the San Diego State Aztecs, could be one of the biggest sleepers in the 2021 NBA draft.

Among all players 6-foot-6 or taller who played at least 50 percent of all possible minutes for their team during their tenure in college, he and Gary Trent Jr. are the only players since 2008-09 to record a career three-point percentage above 40 percent with a free-throw percentage above 85 percent and turnover rate below 10 percent.

He recently caught up with HoopsHype to discuss his biggest strengths and his work ethic. Schakel also touched on his interest in the UFC, growing up around Hollywood stardom and what he learned during a valuable pick-up run with Rico Hines.

Please note this interview was minorly edited in its transcript for clarity.

NBA prospect Matt Mitchell: ‘I’m that junkyard dog that gets it done’

Matt Mitchell, a lengthy 6-foot-6 wing from San Diego State, projects as one of the best potential sleepers in the 2021 NBA draft.

Matt Mitchell, a lengthy 6-foot-6 wing from San Diego State, projects as one of the best potential sleepers in the 2021 NBA draft.

Mitchell won the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year behind 15.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game in 2020-21. He had the second-best steal percentage in the conference and he earned MWC First-Team All-Defense consideration. Mitchell was honored as the MWC Tournament MVP and he helped his squad make an appearance in March Madness.

The NBA prospect recently caught up with HoopsHype to discuss where he fits in this draft class, what he learned at San Diego State and plenty more.

Please note this interview was minorly edited in its transcript for clarity.

Utah State Leads The Race for #2 Seed in MW Tournament

The Mountain West title has already been won, but a battle is brewing for 2nd place – and a spot on the other side of the bracket from SDSU.

[jwplayer 9FEfL71c]

Utah State Leads Six Teams Vying for #2 Seed in MW Tourney

Aggies have the inside track, but any slip-ups could cause chaos

Contact/Follow @andrewdieckhoff & @MWCwire

SDSU has already clinched the top spot, but how will things play out beneath them?

With the Mountain West regular season title already locked up by San Diego State—and with the Aztecs focusing on bigger things, like a potential #1 seed and a chance to cut down the nets in Atlanta—the major storyline in the league has shifted to who will finish in second place.

Currently, there are five teams leading the fight for the Mountain West’s silver medal: Utah State, Colorado State, Nevada, Boise State, and UNLV. The Aggies currently hold a half-game edge over the Rams and Wolf Pack, with the Broncos a full game back. UNLV is in sixth place, but their 8-6 record is only one and half games off Utah State’s pace.

Why is the race for second place so important?

Because with undefeated San Diego State on the other side of the bracket, the teams that finish in second and third will have a few extra games before they have to play the Aztecs. The teams that earn the #4 and #5 seed will face the difficult task of playing an above-average team in their first game and SDSU in the next.

With just two weeks remaining in the regular season, each game holds massive sway over seeding for the Mountain West Tournament. To give you an idea of just how contentious these next few weeks will be, take a look at some of the big matchups remaining on the schedule:

  • 2/18 – Nevada @ New Mexico
  • 2/18 – Colorado State @ UNLV
  • 2/22 – UNLV @ San Diego State
  • 2/23 – New Mexico @ Boise State
  • 2/25 – Colorado State @ San Diego State
  • 2/26 – Boise State @ UNLV
  • 2/29 – San Diego State @ Nevada
  • 2/29 – Utah State @ New Mexico

With so many important games remaining, there are myriad scenarios of how the standings will look on March 1. Here’s a quick investigation into how each team can find their way to second place in the Mountain West.

NEW MEXICO (17-10, 6-8 MW)

Remaining Schedule: 2/18 vs. Nevada, 2/23 @ Boise State, 2/26 @ Air Force, 2/29 vs. Utah State

Yes, that’s right. The Lobos are still in it.

New Mexico is currently in seventh place and below .500 in league play, but they have just enough rope that if everything goes right—and it really is almost everything—they could end up finishing in second place.

Here’s how: Wyoming would need to beat Utah State and Nevada. San Jose State would need to beat Colorado State, Utah State, and UNLV. Air Force would need to beat the Rams in Fort Collins. If all of that happens, and New Mexico takes care of its own business against the Wolf Pack, Broncos, and Falcons, it would set up a spectacular season finale in The Pit.

If the Lobos could win that game, then New Mexico, Utah State, Nevada, Boise State, and Colorado State would all finish with a league record of 10-8. Tiebreaking procedures dictate that the team with the best record against these opponents will receive the highest seed. The Lobos and Aggies would move into a two-way tiebreaker by virtue each having gone 4-2 against these opponents.

The tiebreaker then moves to head-to-head record, which would give New Mexico the advantage—the final game of the season would be the only regular-season meeting of the two teams.

There is virtually no chance that all of that would happen. But the mere fact that it is even still a possibility is amazing, considering how quickly the Lobos have fallen off the map after their 15-3 start to the season.

UNLV (13-14, 8-6 MW)

Remaining Schedule: 2/18 vs. Colorado State, 2/22 @ San Diego State, 2/26 vs. Boise State, 2/29 @ San Jose State

It would still take some major chaos in the Mountain West for the Rebels to finish in second place, but it’s not as far-fetched as New Mexico’s bid. UNLV has plenty of roads into second place—even without a win over San Diego State.

Like New Mexico, the Rebels would really need Utah State to fall apart down the stretch, with the other three teams currently ahead of them stumbling as well. But UNLV could lose to the Aztecs and still finish 11-7. A handful of scenarios could see the Rebels sitting clear of everyone else in the #2 position.

Interestingly, if the Rebels can’t land in the #2 or #3 spot, they may actually have better luck down as the #6 or #7 team. They could stay away from San Diego State and will still have the benefit of playing at home for the Mountain West Tournament.

These scenarios are much, much more likely than the Rebels finishing second. But even more likely is that one of the next four teams will take home the silver. [CONTINUED]

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=1379]

Pages: Page 1, Page 2

Aggies Out for Revenge in Return Match against Broncos

Utah State hosts conference foes Boise State in Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on Saturday. The game tips off at 8:00 PM Mountain Time.

[jwplayer 9FEfL71c]

Boise State at Utah State: Game Preview, TV, Radio, Live Stream, Odds, More

Two of the MW’s best do battle on Saturday night

Contact/Follow @andrewdieckhoff & @MWCwire

GAME DETAILS

WHO: Boise State (16-8, 8-4 MWC) at Utah State (18-7, 7-5 MWC)

WHEN: Saturday, February 8 — 8:00 P.M. MT / 7:00 P.M. PT

WHERE: Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, Logan, UT

WATCH: CBS Sports Network; Get a free 7-day trial of FuboTV.

LISTEN: TuneIn USU, TuneIn BSU

ALL-TIME: The Aggies lead the series, 33-16.

ODDS: Utah State -7, per KenPom

GAME PREVIEW

Boise State will try to hold onto its second-place position in the Mountain West on Saturday, as they travel to Logan to square off with Utah State. The action at Dee Glen Smith Spectrum tips off at 8:00 P.M. Mountain. The game will televised on CBS Sports Network.

The first time these two met, the Broncos (16-8, 8-4 MW) pulled of an incredible comeback to earn an overtime victory over the Aggies.

But that was in Boise. Now, Utah State is ready to return the favor on their own turf.

The Aggies have made a habit of winning at home. Craig Smith’s team is 12-1 in Logan this year, and that single loss came against the still-undefeated San Diego State juggernaut.

If they can hold court once more, the Aggies (18-7, 7-5 MW) will erase the deficit between themselves and Boise State in the Mountain West standings. Utah State could end up taking over sole possession of that spot as early as Tuesday, with a midweek date with Colorado State next up on the docket after the Broncos.

Boise State, meanwhile, has won five straight, a streak beginning with that 19-point comeback over the Aggies on January 18. But this road game will be the most difficult they’ve had in some time.

Boise State is 3-6 in true road games this season, with those wins coming against Fresno State, Wyoming, and Pacific. Leon Rice has yet to register a meaningful win in hostile territory.

That win over Wyoming almost didn’t happen, either.

A close call in Laramie

Boise State nearly suffered an upset earlier this week when they started their two-game road trip in Laramie. The Cowboys led for most of that game, but a late surge helped the Broncos avoid taking the loss. A masterful performance off the bench from Alex Hobbs resulted in a career-high 24 points for the senior.

While the bench was busy going off—Max Rice, the coach’s son, also notched a career-high with 12 points—one of Boise State’s stars went quiet. Derrick Alston Jr. managed just two points for the entire game against Wyoming, and both of those came on free throws. The season-low output was likely just a small speedbump for Alston, who is averaging 19 points per game on the year.

Broncos senior Justinian Jessup will look to extend his Mountain West record for three-pointers made in a career. Jessup broke the record against Wyoming. On Saturday, he could become the first player in conference history to make 300 threes. The sharp-shooting guard currently sits at 298 for his career.

Aggies on the rise?

For Utah State, the Mountain West season has been a roller-coaster. The Aggies won their first two league games back in December, but lost three straight to start off the new year, including road losses to UNLV and Air Force.

They have won six of eight since that skid, with both losses coming on the road—and with Utah State having been in position to win both games. The Aggies led for large parts of those contests against Boise State and San Diego State but were unable to pull off a win on either occasion.

Utah State was back to their winning ways earlier this week, though, when they toppled UNLV in the first leg of their two-game homestand. Sophomore big man Neemias Queta had a season-high 21 points in the game, to go along with six rebounds and five assists. Joining him in the 20-point club was running mate Sam Merrill.

This kind of outburst from the duo was expected to be a nightly occurrence for Utah State, but the team has too often seen their stars fail to fall into step.

One of the factors keeping the Aggies afloat is the development of Justin Bean. The big man started the year as a Queta surrogate and made the most of his chance in the starting lineup, averaging a double-double with 12.6 points and 10.2 rebounds.

Tournament implications

As of Friday, Utah State stands at #52 in the NCAA’s NET rankings, while Utah State comes in at #92. A win for the Broncos would register as a Quadrant 1 victory, while the Aggies would only get a Quadrant 3 win for beating Boise State at Smith Spectrum.

Their wins over LSU and Florida aren’t as strong as they could be, and the losses to UNLV and Air Force are an albatross around Utah State’s neck.

In something of a catch-22, that road defeat against the Rebels is teetering on the verge of entering Quadrant 2. If UNLV does eventually rise in the rankings, it will lift an ugly Quadrant 3 loss off of the books, but it will also add another loss to an already meager record against Quadrant 1 and 2 opponents.

Boise State has turned their season around, to be sure, but a poor strength of schedule ranking and two Quadrant 3 losses paint a grim picture for the Broncos’ tournament dreams. A loss to Utah State would certainly help, but the true test will come in just over two weeks, when Boise State hosts San Diego State at ExtraMile Arena.

But even with both wins, the Broncos would still have just a mediocre resume overall.

The ship has likely sailed for either of these teams to get into the NCAA Tournament with an at-large bid, so at this point, they are vying to secure a first-round bye in the Mountain West Tournament—and preferably on the opposite side of the bracket from the Aztecs.

That would drastically improve their chances of making the MWC Tournament final, and if they can get some help from an early upset of SDSU, an automatic bid could be in either team’s future.

Andrew is a current USBWA member, covering college basketball for multiple outlets, including Mountain West Wire of the USA TODAY Sports Media Group and Busting Brackets of the FanSided Network. He also runs the Dieckhoff Power Index, a college basketball analytics system, and provides bracketology predictions throughout the season.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1361]