Mountain West Basketball: Way-too-early power rankings for 2020-21

Mountain West Basketball: Way-too-early 2020-21 power rankings

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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RENO, NEVADA – JANUARY 02: A fan cheers along with friends holding a Nevada Wolf Pack (Photo by Jonathan Devich/Getty Images) /

6. Nevada

The Wolf Pack lost just about everybody that made them a Mountain West contender last season and they unfortunately don’t look like they’ll be able to bounce back this year from everything they’ve lost. As it stands, Jalen Harris is leaving college for the NBA and if that remains the case, then Nevada is in some trouble right now.

Without Harris, the Wolf Pack will head into next year without this season’s top four scorers and down a Mountain West Player of the Year candidate. The only things working in their favor right now are that Harris reportedly hasn’t hired an agent yet, so he still has the option to return, and the teams behind them are suffering just as badly.

There is also some hope at Nevada. They have signed five freshmen for this year and if even one of them becomes a reliable contributor then the Wolf Pack can keep themselves in the fight for a round 1 bye next year.

If Jalen Harris comes back (which I would find a little surprising right now), then the Wolf Pack probably lock down a top 4 spot again next year. For now, they are scrambling to find a way to replace a ton of scoring and I think they will experience a lot of growing pains as they do it.