Busting Brackets
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Mountain West Basketball power rankings: Utah State, Nevada rises on up

By John Vaccaro

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 11: Matt Mitchell #11 of the San Diego State Aztecs cuts a piece of the net after defeating New Mexico Lobos 82-59 in a game at Viejas Arena on February 11, 2020 in San Diego, California. San Diego State Aztecs moves to 25-0 for the season and clinched a share of the Mouintain West Championship. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 11: Matt Mitchell #11 of the San Diego State Aztecs cuts a piece of the net after defeating New Mexico Lobos 82-59 in a game at Viejas Arena on February 11, 2020 in San Diego, California. San Diego State Aztecs moves to 25-0 for the season and clinched a share of the Mouintain West Championship. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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COLUMBUS, OHIO – MARCH 22: Big Blue, mascot for the Utah State Aggies, (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO – MARCH 22: Big Blue, mascot for the Utah State Aggies, (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

2. Utah State (+2)

It took them a while, but Utah State is finally exactly where we expected them to be from the start of the Mountain West season. Just over the last two weeks, Utah State managed to take out 3 of the 4 teams ranked behind them and one of those wins was an away win against Colorado State. They are also 1-0 against Nevada, the team ranked directly behind them.

Most impressively, by the time the Aggies play their game against Wyoming on Wednesday, it will have been more than a month since Utah State has lost to anybody other than SDSU. This has suddenly become the Utah State team we all thought we were going to see at the start of the season. A few of our writers (myself included) even though they would be better than last year’s team. This last month has helped that opinion look a lot better.

Their recent run through the Mountain West has them right back in the NCAA tournament conversation after it seemed like all hope was lost a month ago. Now they just need to finish the regular season strong with wins over San Jose State, Wyoming, and New Mexico and make it to the Mountain West tournament final and they should be on their way back to the NCAA tournament.

As the only team left other than SDSU who has a shot at the tournament, it’s clear that Utah State is once again the second-best team in this conference.