Men’s College Basketball 2021-2022 Season Preview: Mountain West

The Mountain West college basketball DFS slates are typically profitable because people don’t pay enough attention to it to be aware of which teams to target. So if you grind info about it you can really set yourself above the rest of the field. The MWC as a whole really took advantage of the transfer portal and built some competitive teams because of it. There aren’t a ton of impactful freshmen in this conference but there are a few sneaky players to be aware of. Let’s give the MWC the respect it deserves and highlight the players to know!

(Check out our full college basketball season preview!)

San Diego State Aztecs

2020-2021 record: 23-5 (14-3 MWC), first in MWC
Postseason: Lost in NCAA Tournament first round

Key Departures | San Diego State Aztecs

• Jordan Schakel (playing professionally)
• Matt Mitchell (playing professionally)
• Terrell Gomez (playing professionally)
• Key Additions | San Diego State Aztecs
• Matt Bradley (transferred from Cal)
• Chad Baker (transferred from Duquesne)
• Tahirou Diabete (transferred from Portland)
• Jaedon Ledee (transferred from TCU)

Returners | San Diego State Aztecs

• Trey Pulliam (7.3 PPG/3 RPG/3.5 APG/1.4 SPG)
• Nathan Mensah (8.1 PPG/6.1 RPG, 1.4 BPG)
• Adam Seiko (4.2 PPG)
• Aguek Arop (4.2 PPG)
• Keshad Johnson (4 PPG/3.6 RPG)
• Keith Dinwiddie (5.1 PPG)

Impact Players | San Diego State Aztecs

• Matt Bradley
• Nathan Mensah

The Sneaks | San Diego State Aztecs

• Chad Baker
• Keshad Johnson

Breakout Candidate | San Diego State Aztecs

• Keith Dinwiddie

Colorado State Rams

2020-2021 record: 20-8 (14-4 MWC), third in MWC
Postseason: Lost in NIT Tournament third-place game

Key Departures | Colorado State Rams

• None

Key Additions | Colorado State Rams

• Chandler Jacobs (D2 Transfer)
• Baylor Hebb (transferred from Loyola Chicago)

Returners | Colorado State Rams

• Isaiah Stevens (15.3 PPG/4.3 RPG/5.4 APG/1.1 SPG)
• David Roddy (15.9 PPG/9.4 RPG/2.6 APG)
• Kendle Moore (10.4 PPG)
• Adam Thistlewood (9.1 PPG/3.6 RPG)
• James Moors (5.9 PPG/3.5 RPG)
• Dischon Thomas (5.2 PPG/3.1 RPG)
• John Tonje (6.7 PPG/2.9 RPG)

Impact Players | Colorado State Rams

• Isaiah Stevens
• David Roddy

The Sneaks | Colorado State Rams

• Adam Thistlewood
• Kendle Moore

Breakout Candidate | Colorado State Rams

• James Moors

Nevada Wolf Pack

2020-2021 record: 16-10 (10-7 MWC), fifth in MWC
Postseason: None

Key Departures | Nevada Wolf Pack

• Kane Milling (transferred to UC Davis)

Key Additions | Nevada Wolf Pack

• AJ Bramah (transferred from Robert Morris)
• Will Baker (transferred from Texas)
• Kenan Blackshear (transferred from FAU)

Returners | Nevada Wolf Pack

• Grant Sherfield (18.6 PPG/3.7 RPG/6.1 APG/1.6 SPG)
• Desmond Cambridge (16.3 PPG/4.5 RPG/2.4 APG)
• Warren Washington (10 PPG/5.9 RPG)
• KJ Hymes (6.4 PPG/3.4 RPG)
• Tre Coleman (5.5 PPG/3 RPG)
• Daniel Foster (4.3 PPG/3.1 RPG)

Impact Players | Nevada Wolf Pack

• Grant Sherfield
• Desmond Cambridge
• AJ Bramah

The Sneak | Nevada Wolf Pack

• Warren Washington

Breakout Candidate | Nevada Wolf Pack

• Will Baker

Boise State Broncos

2020-2021 record: 19-9 (14-6 MWC), fourth in MWC
Postseason: Lost in NIT Tournament quarterfinal

Key Departures | Boise State Broncos

• Derrick Alston (playing professionally)
• RayJ Dennis (transferred to Toledo)

Key Additions | Boise State Broncos

• RJ Keene (3 star recruit)

Returners | Boise State Broncos

• Devonaire Doutrive (8.9 PPG/3.1 RPG)
• Marcus Shaver (10.6 PPG/4.5 RPG/1.2 SPG)
• Abu Kigab (11.8 PPG/5.4 RPG/1.2 SPG)
• Emmanuel Akot (9.1 PPG/3.6 RPG/2.7 APG)
• Mladen Armus (8.1 PPG/7.8 RPG)
• Max Rice (5.9 PPG)

Impact Players | Boise State Broncos

• Abu Kigab
• Marcus Shaver
• Devonaire Doutrive

The Sneak | Boise State Broncos

• Mladen Armus

Breakout Candidate | Boise State Broncos

• Emmanuel Akot

UNLV Runnin’ Rebels

2020-2021 record: 12-15 (8-10 MWC), seventh in MWC
Postseason: None

Key Departures | UNLV Runnin’ Rebels

• David Jenkins (transferred to Utah)
• Caleb Grill (transferred to Iowa State)
• Cheikh Mbacke Diong (transferred to UCF)

Key Additions | UNLV Runnin’ Rebels

• Jordan McCabe (transferred from West Virginia)
• Victor Iwuakor (transferred from Oklahoma)
• Mika Nuga (transferred from Kent State)
• Royce Hamm (transferred from Texas)
• Justin Webster (transferred from Hawaii)
• Donovan Williams (transferred from Texas)
• David Muoka (transferred from Lamar)
• Josh Baker (JUCO transfer)
• Keshon Gilbert (3 star recruit)

Returners | UNLV Runnin’ Rebels

• Bryce Hamilton (17.9 PPG/6 RPG/1.3 SPG)
• Marvin Coleman (6.7 PPG)

Impact Players | UNLV Runnin’ Rebels

• Bryce Hamilton
• Mika Nuga

The Sneaks | UNLV Runnin’ Rebels

• Jordan McCabe
• Donovan Williams

Breakout Candidate | UNLV Runnin’ Rebels

• Keshon Gilbert

Utah State Aggies

2020-2021 record: 20-9 (15-4 MWC), second in MWC
Postseason: Lost in NCAA Tournament first round

Key Departures | Utah State Aggies

• Neemias Queta (NBA)
• Rollie Worster (transferred to Utah)
• Marco Anthony (transferred to Utah)

Key Additions | Utah State Aggies

• RJ Eytle-Rock (transferred from UMBC)
• Rylan Jones (transferred from Utah)
• Brandon Horvath (transferred from UMBC)

Returners | Utah State Aggies

• Brock Miller (8.8 PPG)
• Justin Bean (11.4 PPG/7.7 RPG/1.3 SPG)
• Steven Ashworth (6.1 PPG)
• Sean Bairstow (3.7 PPG)

Impact Players | Utah State Aggies

• Justin Bean
• RJ Eytle-Rock

The Sneaks | Utah State Aggies

• Brandon Horvath
• Brock Miller

Breakout Candidate | Utah State Aggies

• Rylan Jones

(Check out our rankings of the top 100 teams and top 100 players for men’s college basketball in 2021-2022.)

Fresno State Bulldogs

2020-2021 record: 12-12 (9-11 MWC), sixth in MWC
Postseason: None

Key Departures | Fresno State Bulldogs

• None

Key Additions | Fresno State Bulldogs

• Jemarl Baker (transferred from Arizona)

Returners | Fresno State Bulldogs

• Isaiah Hill (10.2 PPG/3.1 RPG/1.3 SPG)
• Orlando Robinson (14.6 PPG/9.2 RPG)
• Deon Stroud (12.2 PPG)
• Anthony Holland (5.5 PPG/4.7 RPG)
• Jordan Campbell (4.5 PPG)
• Junior Ballard (7.2 PPG)
• Braxton Meah (2.8 PPG)

Impact Players | Fresno State Bulldogs

• Orlando Robinson
• Jemarl Baker

The Sneak | Fresno State Bulldogs

• Anthony Holland

Breakout Candidate | Fresno State Bulldogs

• Deon Stroud

Wyoming Cowboys

2020-2021 record: 14-11 (7-9 MWC), eighth in MWC
Postseason: None

Key Departures | Wyoming Cowboys

• Marcus Williams (transferred to Texas A&M)

Key Additions | Wyoming Cowboys

• Deng Dut (JUCO transfer)
• Brendan Wetzel (transferred from Utah)
• Nate Barnhart (3 star recruit)

Returners | Wyoming Cowboys

• Kenny Foster (9.1 PPG/3.6 RPG)
• Xavier DuSell (9.7 PPG)
• Hunter Maldonado (12.5 PPG/6.8 RPG/4.6 APG)
• Hunter Thompson (7 PPG/3.8 RPG)
• Graham Ike (11.2 PPG/5.4 RPG), Drake Jeffries (7.4 PPG)

Impact Player | Wyoming Cowboys

• Hunter Maldonado

The Sneaks | Wyoming Cowboys

• Xavier DuSell
• Graham Ike

Breakout Candidate | Wyoming Cowboys

• Drake Jeffries

New Mexico Lobos

2020-2021 record: 6-16 (2-15 MWC), 11th/last in MWC
Postseason: None

Key Departures | New Mexico Lobos

• Rod Brown (transferred to Jacksonville)
• Makuach Maluach (playing professionally)

Key Additions | New Mexico Lobos

• Jamal Mashburn (transferred from Minnesota)
• Jaelen House (transferred from ASU)
• Taryn Todd (transferred from TCU)
• Gethro Muscadin (transferred from Kansas)
• KJ Jenkins (JUCO transfer)
• Jay Allen-Tovar (JUCO transfer)

Returners | New Mexico Lobos

• Jeremiah Francis (6.4 PPG)
• Saquan Singleton (8 PPG/4.5 RPG/3.4 APG)
• Valdir Manuel (7.9 PPG/4 RPG)

Impact Players | New Mexico Lobos

• Jamal Mashburn
• Jaelen House

The Sneak | New Mexico Lobos

• Saquan Singleton

Breakout Candidate | New Mexico Lobos

• Jeremiah Francis

San Jose State Spartans

2020-2021 record: 5-16 (3-13 MWC), ninth in MWC
Postseason: None

Key Departures | San Jose State Spartans

• Richard Washington (suspended)
• Seneca Knight (transferred to BYU)

Key Additions | San Jose State Spartans

• Trey Anderson (transferred from South Carolina)
• Ibrahima Diallo (transferred from Ohio State)
• Shon Robinson (transferred from Ole Miss)
• Josh O’Garro (transferred from Oklahoma)
• Tibert Gorener (transferred from Arizona)
• Majok Kuath (JUCO transfer)

Returners | San Jose State Spartans

• Sebastian Mendoza (7 PPG)
• Omari Moore (7.4 PPG/5.3 RPG)
• Trey Smith (8 PPG)

Impact Players | San Jose State Spartans

• Trey Anderson
• Omari Moore

The Sneak | San Jose State Spartans

• Tibert Gorener

Breakout Candidate | San Jose State Spartans

• Shon Robinson

Air Force Falcons

2020-2021 record: 5-20 (3-17 MWC), 10th in MWC
Postseason: None

Key Departures | Air Force Falcons

• Christopher Joyce (graduated)

Key Additions | Air Force Falcons

• None

Returners | Air Force Falcons

• AJ Walker (15.3 PPG)
• Nick Jackson (8.2 PPG/3.4 RPG)
• Carter Murphy (4.1 PPG)
• Abe Kinrade (3.6 PPG)
• Camden Vander Zwaag (2.8 PPG)
• CJ Haut (0.9 PPG)

Impact Playes | Air Force Falcons

• AJ Walker

The Sneak | Air Force Falcons

• Carter Murphy

Breakout Candidate | Air Force Falcons

• Nick Jackson