Mountain West teams bring low RPI, Kenpom rankings to Las Vegas

1. SAN DIEGO STATE (23-8, 16-2)

Coach: Steve Fisher (362-193, 17th season)

Best nonconference wins: 72-58 over California

Worst losses: 49-43 to Arkansas-Little Rock, 53-48 to San Diego

Player to watch: G Trey Kell

RPI: 41

Kenpom: 39

Fast fact: The Aztecs have won the regular-season title the past three years.

2. FRESNO STATE (22-9, 13-5)

Coach: Rodney Terry (82-83, fifth season)

Best nonconference wins: 69-66 over Pepperdine

Worst losses: 77-65 to Cal Poly, 85-77 to Evansville

Player to watch: G Marvelle Harris

RPI: 82

Kenpom: 119

Fast fact: Fresno State has rallied to win seven times when behind at halftime.

3. BOISE STATE (20-11, 11-7)

Coach: Leon Rice (122-74, sixth season)

Best nonconference wins: 74-72 over Oregon

Worst losses: 74-72 to Montana

Player to watch: F James Webb III

RPI: 92

Kenpom: 96

Fast fact: The Broncos are the only conference team to beat top two seeds San Diego State and Fresno State.

4. NEW MEXICO (17-14, 10-8)

Coach: Craig Neal (59-37, third season)

Best nonconference wins: 76-57 over Northern Iowa

Worst losses: 83-78 to Auburn, 82-59 to Washington State

Player to watch: G Elijah Brown

RPI: 130

Kenpom: 127

Fast fact: New Mexico ended a four-game losing streak Saturday with a 71-66 victory over UNR.

5 UNR (18-12, 10-8)

Coach: Eric Musselman (18-12, first season)

Best nonconference wins: 72-69 over Santa Clara

Worst losses: 75-66 to Cal State Fullerton

Player to watch: G Marqueze Coleman

RPI: 124

Kenpom: 146

Fast fact: Musselman coached New Mexico’s Craig Neal when they were at the Rapid City (S.D.) Thrillers of the Continental Basketball Association.

6. COLORADO STATE (16-15, 8-10)

Coach: Larry Eustachy (85-47, fourth season)

Best nonconference wins: 84-78 over Northern Iowa

Worst losses: 99-90 to Texas-El Paso, 73-64 to Northern Colorado

Player to watch: G Antwan Scott

RPI: 190

Kenpom: 172

Fast fact: Until beating Air Force 87-73 to close the regular season, the Rams had lost five of six games.

7. UNLV (17-14, 8-10)

Coach: Todd Simon (8-7, first season)

Best nonconference wins: 72-69 over Indiana, 80-69 over Oregon

Worst losses: 66-56 to Arizona State

Player to watch: G Patrick McCaw

RPI: 142

Kenpom: 122

Fast fact: UNLV’s 25-12 Mountain West tournament record is the best in conference history.

8. WYOMING (14-17, 7-11)

Coach: Larry Shyatt (117-77, sixth season)

Best nonconference wins: 62-59 over New Mexico State

Worst losses: 70-55 to Indiana State, 83-82 to Montana State, 68-58 to Southern

Player to watch: G Josh Adams

RPI: 181

Kenpom: 171

Fast fact: Wyoming is the defending tournament champion.

9. UTAH STATE (15-14, 7-11)

Coach: Tim Duryea (15-14, first season)

Best nonconference wins: 73-70 over Weber State

Worst losses: 68-60 to Brigham Young

Player to watch: F Jalen Moore

RPI: 153

Kenpom: 156

Fast fact: This is the lowest seed for the Aggies in their postseason history. The previous lowest seed was No. 8 last season.

10. AIR FORCE (14-17, 5-13)

Coach: Dave Pilipovich (60-72, fourth season)

Best nonconference wins: 66-64 (OT) over New Mexico State

Worst losses: 90-80 to Army

Player to watch: F Hayden Graham

RPI: 222

Kenpom: 261

Fast fact: The Falcons are 3-16 in the Mountain West tournament, but they are 3-1 in the first round.

11. SAN JOSE STATE (9-21, 4-14)

Coach: Dave Wojcik (18-73, third season)

Best nonconference wins: 64-61 over Montana

Worst losses: 81-69 and 91-83 to Montana State, 78-75 to Santa Clara, 67-64 to Seattle

Player to watch: F Frank Rogers

RPI: 298

Kenpom: 253

Fast fact: San Jose State has a seven-game improvement over last season, 36th best in the nation.