Best of the West: Arizona on top as New Mexico, UNLV climb
Last season, the basketball conferences based in the western third of the country combined to claim six at-large berths to the NCAA Tournament — a modest total compared to expectations.
Nine months later, at this no-longer-early stage of the 2022-23 season, the region is reasonably well positioned for year-over-year improvement.
Based on the latest NET rankings, which serve as a useful guide for identifying at-large candidates, the six conferences have 13 teams with resumes stout enough for consideration.
If we account for automatic qualifiers from each conference represented in the NET’s top 50, there are nine teams on the at-large spectrum.
Holding those positions won’t be easy — two or three bad losses can permanently wreck your ranking. But with the Pac-12 and Mountain West leading the way, the region looks a bit deeper than it did last year.
By the end of January, the framework should be in place.
Our hunch is the region’s at-large total lands on the high side of six.
To the latest Best of the West rankings …
*** Disclaimer: In some cases, the order below does not reflect placement in my Associated Press top-25 ballot, which tracks with guidelines provided by the AP.
Also considered: Boise State, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Seattle and UC Santa Barbara
(NET rankings through Wednesday’s games)
1. Arizona (9-1/1-1 Pac-12)
Last week: 2
Results: beat Indiana 89-75 and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 99-61
Next up: vs. Tennessee (Saturday)
NET ranking: No. 11
Comment: It took a mere 1,904 days, but the NCAA infractions case concluded Wednesday with minimal landmines on the road ahead for Tommy Lloyd and Co. Good thing the Wildcats excused themselves from the 2021 NCAAs.
2. UCLA (9-2/2-0 Pac-12)
Last week: 3
Results: beat Denver 87-64 and Maryland 87-60
Next up: vs. Kentucky (Saturday)
NET ranking: No. 6
Comment: If we had said, The Bruins will beat Maryland by 27 points despite getting just 27 points (combined) from Tyger Campbell, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Amari Bailey, you might have wondered: On what planet? And we’d respond: Planet Singleton.
3. Gonzaga (8-3)
Last week: 1
Results: beat Washington 77-60 and Northern Illinois 88-67
Next up: vs. Alabama (Saturday)
NET ranking: No. 18
Comment: The Crimson Tide, which just toppled No. 1 Houston, is the last heavyweight on Gonzaga’s schedule before WCC play ramps up. The Zags are 4-3 against power conference competition.
4. New Mexico (10-0)
Last week: 5
Results: beat UTSA 94-76 and USF 67-64
Next up: vs. Iona (Sunday)
NET ranking: No. 24
Comment: Jamal Mashburn Jr. and Jaelen House (father: Eddie) are the best pair of teammates, who are also sons of former players, we have seen all season.
5. Arizona State (10-1/2-0 Pac-12)
Last week: 6
Results: beat Creighton 73-71
Next up: vs. San Diego (Sunday)
NET ranking: No. 26
Comment: The Sun Devils are 5-1 in games decided by five points or less. Possibly related: Their four leaders in minutes played are all shooting better than 70 percent from the foul line.
6. UNLV (10-0)
Last week: 7
Results: beat WSU 74-70
Next up: vs. San Francisco (Saturday)
NET ranking: No. 36
Comment: And the defense shall lead: The Rebels are No. 128 nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency (per Pomeroy ratings) but No. 37 defensively.
7. Utah (9-2/2-0 Pac-12)
Last week: 8
Results: beat Jacksonville State 99-58 and UTSA 91-70
Next up: at Brigham Young (Saturday)
NET ranking: No. 21
Comment: Branden Carlson in Utah’s two losses: three baskets (combined). Branden Carlson in Utah’s nine wins: 63 baskets. (We could do the division, but you get the picture.)
8. Saint Mary’s (9-3)
Last week: 9
Results: beat San Diego State 68-61 and New Mexico State 81-68
Next up: vs. Colorado State (Sunday)
NET ranking: No. 15
Comment: The Gaels and their core five don’t deploy a frenetic tempo. Even so, depth development will be critical to success down the stretch.
9. San Diego State (8-3)
Last week: 4
Results: lost to Saint Mary’s 68-61, beat Kennesaw State 88-54
Next up: vs. UC San Diego (Tuesday)
NET ranking: No. 41
Comment: The victory over Ohio State is starting to get a little lonely. The Aztecs could use another quality win before MW play heats up.
10. Utah State (8-0)
Last week: 10
Results: beat LMU 79-67
Next up: vs. Westminster (Thursday)
NET ranking: No. 12
Comment: Some NET rankings make perfect sense, even this early in the season. Utah State’s isn’t one of them, if we’re being honest.
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