Mountain West Basketball: Why the conference should vote out San Jose State

The Mountain West Conference has been looking lately to add some quality teams to solidify themselves in the basketball world. But they can do something right now to get better – get rid of some dead weight.

The Nevada Wolf Pack is somehow still alive in the Sweet Sixteen, after thrilling wins against both Texas and Cincinnati. They were along with San Diego State the Mountain West’s representatives of this year’s NCAA Tournament, ending a two-year stretch of having just one bid.

The league is hoping to not get back to that level, hoping to add another Sweet Sixteen team in Gonzaga. They’re one of a few teams that could be added as soon as this spring, but the Zags would be the ultimate coup.

It’s clear that the Mountain West wants to make some big moves, but before they do that, I’d recommend cleaning house first. Starting with, voting out San Jose State.

The Spartans just completed a dreadful 4-26 (1-17) season, and could be even worse next year after losing all of their best players.

San Jose State was brought into the Mountain West from the WAC after losing several teams from the conference realignment in 2012. There were hopes that the Spartans could improve, but the program has never been more than two games over .500 in their 30 years in D-1 basketball.

This is a problem for the league, as having a perennial bottom-feeder can only serve as a headache if they accidentally beat a bubble team in the middle of the season. With no kind of hope for the basketball program (the football team isn’t any better having gone 2-11 last year as well), the Mountain West should make the move now and vote them out.

This isn’t a unprecudented thing for conferences to do. The Sun Belt voted out both Idaho and New Mexico State’s football teams in 2016, and the Big East got rid of Temple in 2001. With several options on the table already, the Spartans can be replaced by a better team.

Next: Why Gonzaga moving to the Mountain West is a bad idea

It’s not always about getting better at the top. Making sure that the bottom being competitive is important as well to ensuring multiple bids. San Jose State hasn’t shown they can do it on the basketball side now for 30 years, and for the Mountain West’s benefit, they should vote them out.