Mountain West is climbing Division I ranks
The Mountain West Conference is the baby of Division I basketball, only in existence for a little more than a decade.
But it’s growing up fast.
This week, for the first time, the conference has three teams in the top 25 of the Associated Press media poll -- No. 15 New Mexico, No. 17 Brigham Young and No. 23 Nevada Las Vegas.
Those same teams are tied for first in the Mountain West standings, each with a record of 7-2 in conference play.
“The exposure for the league is great,” UNLV Coach Lon Kruger said Monday during a teleconference. “Any time there’s that national attention . . . it’s really good for everyone. The crowds across the league have been improved and more into it, and perhaps that is because of the rankings.”
The atmosphere should be intense Wednesday when Kruger’s Rebels (19-4) play host to New Mexico (21-3). Las Vegas just registered its best win of the season, knocking off Brigham Young (22-3).
“They’re playing at a really high level,” New Mexico Coach Steve Alford said of UNLV.
But New Mexico, hoping for payback after a loss to the Rebels in Albuquerque earlier this season, isn’t going to play timidly in Las Vegas. After starting the conference season 0-2, the Lobos have won seven straight.
“We’ve done a lot of positive things since starting 0-2,” said Alford, who takes his team to Utah later in the week. “We know we have our most difficult week of the season. It’s going to be very, very challenging.”
Wall to wall leader
In a media poll conducted by AnnArbor.com, Kentucky freshman John Wall has a solid lead in player of the year voting, but Ohio State’s Evan Turner is gaining on him.
The panel, comprised of 48 journalists (including this reporter), placed Wall first with 106 points and Turner second with 86. Syracuse forward Wesley Johnson is next, followed by Villanova’s Scottie Reynolds and Texas’ Damion James.
The equalizer
Wondering how the Big Ten race suddenly became so tight, with five teams within 1 1/2 games of one another at the top of the standings? Look no further than Michigan State point guard Kalin Lucas’ sprained ankle.
Lucas told Coach Tom Izzo he’s going to try to play in Tuesday night’s pivotal game against Purdue. He sat out Saturday’s loss to Illinois after injuring his ankle in a loss last week at Wisconsin.
Lucas participated in a walk-through and layup drill on Sunday, but was limited enough that Izzo still considers him questionable.
It’s clear the Spartans need Lucas. A week ago, they had a three-game lead. Now, Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio State and Purdue are right on their heels.
Swish of the week
West Virginia. Da’Sean Butler was seven for seven from three-point range in a comeback victory against St. John’s. He also contributed 18 points in a victory against Pittsburgh. But Butler was just two for 12 from the field Monday against Villanova as the Mountaineers’ six-game win streak ended.
Brick of the week
West Virginia’s fans. When Coach Bob Huggins is the one telling you to behave, you know you have problems. Cheers and jeers are all part of the game, but Mountaineers fans crossed a line and worsened their reputation by throwing objects onto the court against Pittsburgh and striking assistant Tom Herrion in the face with a coin. Let’s hope Panthers fans set a better example in Friday’s rematch.
Game of the week
Tennessee at Kentucky on Saturday.
Two big personalities -- Kentucky Coach John Calipari and Tennessee’s Bruce Pearl -- are reasons this game will be entertaining. Tennessee has overcome player suspensions and defeating Kentucky would add to its list of big wins, which already includes a victory over Kansas. Kentucky has won three straight since losing to South Carolina.