Busting Brackets
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Mountain West Basketball: Preseason rankings for 2018-19

By Connor Hope

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 10: Mountain West Conference seat covers are seen before the championship game of the Mountain West Conference basketball tournament between the New Mexico Lobos and the San Diego State Aztecs at the Thomas & Mack Center on March 10, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 10: Mountain West Conference seat covers are seen before the championship game of the Mountain West Conference basketball tournament between the New Mexico Lobos and the San Diego State Aztecs at the Thomas & Mack Center on March 10, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) /
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BOISE, ID – NOVEMBER 30: Head coach Leon Rice of the Boise State Broncos disagrees with a call during second half action against the SMU Mustangs on November 30, 2016 at Taco Bell Arena in Boise, Idaho. Boise State won the game 71-62. (Photo by Loren Orr/Getty Images)
BOISE, ID – NOVEMBER 30: Head coach Leon Rice of the Boise State Broncos disagrees with a call during second half action against the SMU Mustangs on November 30, 2016 at Taco Bell Arena in Boise, Idaho. Boise State won the game 71-62. (Photo by Loren Orr/Getty Images) /

While I want to be optimistic about the Broncos, the loss of Chandler Hutchison, Christian Sengfelder and Lexus Williams will be tough to overcome. As is the case with Wyoming, there is still some strong talent for Boise State, but not enough to make their success a sure thing.

Leon Rice is now the longest-tenured coach in the Mountain West and has finished in the bottom half just once during this time in Boise. If anyone can keep Boise State afloat, it is Rice.

However, the Broncos will need to find some new leaders to step up and replace their lost production. Justinian Jessup, Alex Hobbs, and Marcus Dickinson form a more than capable backcourt, but someone will need to join Zach Haney in the frontcourt to compete with the larger teams in the conference.

It is usually not wise to bet against Leon Rice and the Broncos, but with so much talent in the Mountain West this season, it will be tough to break into the top half. If a couple of players step up, the Broncos could be the surprise of the season.