Busting Brackets
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Mountain West Basketball: 2019-20 power rankings heading into conference play

By Connor Hope

RENO, NEVADA - MARCH 09: Matt Mitchell #11 of the San Diego State Aztecs drives to the basket during the game against the Nevada Wolf Pack at Lawlor Events Center on March 09, 2019 in Reno, Nevada. (Photo by Jonathan Devich/Getty Images)
RENO, NEVADA - MARCH 09: Matt Mitchell #11 of the San Diego State Aztecs drives to the basket during the game against the Nevada Wolf Pack at Lawlor Events Center on March 09, 2019 in Reno, Nevada. (Photo by Jonathan Devich/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 24: Austin Mueller #14 of the Wyoming Cowboys (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 24: Austin Mueller #14 of the Wyoming Cowboys (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

With the Mountain West Basketball season is already in full swing, which teams have separated themselves heading into 2020?

Prior to the season, the Mountain West looked like one of the stronger mid-major conferences in the country. After two months, however, there appear to be only two teams with at-large aspirations. This is not to say that Mountain West Basketball is bad, but they are not the Top 10 conference expected in October.

How does the Mountain West Conference stack up at the start of 2020?

11) Wyoming Cowboys

Record: 5-10 (0-3)

Just two years removed from having a top 50 scoring offense in the country, the Wyoming Cowboys are now among the worst. Scoring fewer than 60 points in six of their ten games, Wyoming’s offense has barely been enough to beat even the worst teams in the country. It may seem premature to put Wyoming behind San Jose State, but there is no doubt that the Cowboys have had the worst season to date in the Mountain West.

The only bright spot on an otherwise awful season has been the play of sophomore wing Hunter Maldonado, who is averaging 17.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1 steal per game. Behind him just four players are averaging between five and ten points per game, giving Wyoming a bottom 25 scoring offense in the country. Jake Hendricks, Hunter Thompson and AJ Banks have not been terrible, but they are built more for bench roles than the starting spots they currently occupy.

All is not lost, however, as the Cowboys have slowly improved on their three-point shooting since the beginning of the season. After going eight games without shooting over 35% from deep, the Cowboys have shot well in five of their last seven. In fact, the team’s 39.5% from deep is currently ranked third in Mountain West play. It may not be enough to move into the top half of the conference, but it should prove vital in trying to crawl out of the last place spot on this list.

At the end of the day, this season is lost for the Wyoming Cowboys, whose ceiling may be ninth place in the Mountain West.