Seven Mountain West games to watch this season

Kendall Williams, the 2013 Mountain West Player of the Year, is one of three star players that New Mexico will need to replace this season.

Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Thursday, November 20: New Mexico vs. Boston College, 5 p.m. EST

A new-look New Mexico squad will take on Boston College and stellar scoring guard Olivier Hanlan in the ESPN Puerto Rico Tipoff. The Lobos will be replacing three players that helped the program achieve great success during their time in Albuquerque: Kendall Williams, Cameron Bairstow and Alex Kirk. Bairstow and Kirk are both currently on NBA rosters, Bairstow after being selected by the Chicago Bulls in the second round of the NBA Draft and Kirk after signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers as an undrafted free agent. Williams, the 2013 Mountain West Player of the Year, wasn’t drafted and opted to sign in Italy.

With so much production lost, there are huge question marks surrounding the Lobos this season. The contest against Boston College will give us our first opportunity to see if the New Mexico will suffer a significant drop-off. The tournament will give New Mexico a chance to show what it can do against a field that features Charleston, Connecticut, Dayton, George Mason, Texas A&M and West Virginia.

As the tournament’s name indicates, the game can be seen on ESPN