Bracketology 2024: San Diego State and Colorado State lead a strong Mountain West

Colorado State Rams 13-3, 1-2 in Mountain West

The Colorado State Rams are the second of three nationally-ranked team in the Mountain West. The Rams are now ranked No. 17 after losing both games this week against Utah State and Boise State. Niko Medved’s squad lost a tough road game at Utah State 77-72 and suffered a second-straight defeat Tuesday to the Broncos 65-58. The now 13-3 Rams began the year by rattling off nine straight wins that included Creighton, Colorado and Washington in succession. After losing to Boise State the Rams have won four of their last six and the Rams have a favorable schedule the rest of the way with just three road games against the other conference contenders.

The Rams are the best offensive team in the conference. They average 82 points per game and are one of the most offensively efficient teams in the country. The Rams are 16th in offensive efficiency and that is because they are 6th-best in effective field goal percentage and there are only five better teams better than them in two-point percentage. Isaiah Stevens leads four players in double figures and dishes out over seven assists per game, while turning it over just 2.8 times per game for a team that just commits just 10.7 per game.

The Rams have four quad two wins and the win over Creighton is their only quad one win, but those opportunities should increase as league play goes on. Their overall strength of schedule is much stronger than their non-conference one ranking 87 spots higher. Looking at their metrics, most of them like the Rams with the results metrics and KenPom averaging them at 23, but the BPI isn’t as impressed, ranking them at 62nd. The Rams are the No. 24 NET team with their NET wins averaging 120 and the losses just 43. Colorado State looks well positioned for an at-large at the very least and should be considered the team to beat in the conference.