Busting Brackets
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
9 of 12
Next
LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 10: Deshon Taylor #21 of the Fresno State Bulldogs shoots against the Nevada Wolf Pack during the first half of a semifinal game of the Mountain West Conference basketball tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center on March 10, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Nevada won 83-72. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 10: Deshon Taylor #21 of the Fresno State Bulldogs shoots against the Nevada Wolf Pack during the first half of a semifinal game of the Mountain West Conference basketball tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center on March 10, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Nevada won 83-72. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) /

This may come as a surprise to some people, but I am still optimistic about Fresno State. First-year head coach Justin Hutson will take over a talented squad, and his time spent under Steve Fischer make him more than ready to compete in the Mountain West.

The biggest reason to be excited about the Bulldogs is Deshon Taylor, the biggest star outside the top three teams. Taylor averaged 17.8 points last season and could possibly break the 20 point per game mark this season.

Behind Taylor, the Bulldogs will rely on production from some prior role players and key transfers. New Mexico State transfer Braxton Huggins and Long Beach State Noah Blackwell will join Taylor in the backcourt while Sam Bittner and Nate Grimes will need to step up in the frontcourt.

Despite all these question marks, Hutson’s coaching and Taylor’s leadership should help make this season a success. However, if nobody steps up around the senior guard, this season could go down as a rebuilding year.