Mountain West Basketball: Preseason rankings for 2019-20 season

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 16: Justin Bean #12 of the Utah State Aggies defends Matt Mitchell #11 of the San Diego State Aztecs during the championship game of the Mountain West Conference basketball tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center on March 16, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Utah State won 64-57. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) /

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FORT COLLINS, CO – FEBRUARY 06: Nico Carvacho #32 of the Colorado State Rams celebrates after a foul call during the second half against the Nevada Wolf Pack at Moby Arena on February 6, 2019 in Fort Collins, Colorado. (Photo by Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /

Mountain West Basketball is shaping up to have its deepest slate of teams in recent seasons. With the season only days away, how do these teams stack up against each other?

After several coaching changes, internal drama, and growing pains for newer members of the league – Mountain West Basketball is primed to be both competitive and deep in 2019-20.

Last year saw the Utah State Aggies, picked to finish ninth in the Mountain West’s official preseason rankings, post a 15-3 conference record to take a share of the conference title alongside preseason Final Four favorite Nevada. Meanwhile, other teams (New Mexico, Boise State) crawled to the finish line to cap off disappointing seasons. Then again, on paper, one can never predict how things will actually translate onto the court.

However, if last year was any indication, the Mountain West will be deep. It will be talented. Experienced. And hungry. So who will be in the race for this league’s title? Bare with me, as I take a glance at what this conference might look like, and explore the art of preseason ranking.