Best of the West: Mountain West stands alone as region’s top league after dominating Pac-12

With one third of the regular season in books, it’s as easy to identify the best conference in the west as the best team in the west.

Just as Arizona rules the region in the latter category, so does the Mountain West in the former.

The Mountain West has more teams than the Pac-12 on the top tier of the NET rankings, a better record than the Pac-12 against the Power Six leagues and a better winning percentage than the Pac-12 in non-conference games.

Oh, and this: The Mountain West is 5-0 head-to-head against the Pac-12.

A few data points, with the West Coast Conference included …

— Teams in top 40 of the NET rankings:

Mountain West: four
Pac-12: three
WCC: one

— Non-conference winning percentage:

Mountain West: 70.1
Pac-12: 64.9
WCC: 52.0

— Record against Power Six opponents

Mountain West: 8-8
Pac-12: 12-22
WCC: 11-11

— Record against each other:

Mountain West: 19-5
WCC: 12-20
Pac-12: 6-12

The balance of power could shift before league play begins next week for the Pac-12 (and in early January for the Mountain West and WCC).

But with a smattering of inter-conference matchups remaining, the Pac-12 has a narrow path to claiming regional dominance.

To the Best of the West rankings …

1. Arizona (8-1)

Last week: 1
NET ranking: No. 2
Next up: vs. Alabama (Wednesday)
Comment: The Wildcats have three Quadrant I victories entering their neutral-court showdown with Alabama. The other 11 teams in the conference have two. That says loads about the Wildcats — and about the state of the Pac-12.

2. Gonzaga (8-3)

Last week: 2
NET ranking: No. 36
Next up: vs. Jackson State (Wednesday)
Comment: Two of the three losses are against elite teams (Purdue and UConn) and the third is respectable (Washington). But quality losses are one thing, quality wins another — and the Zags are sorely lacking in that category. And yes, we know they beat UCLA and USC.

3. Brigham Young (10-1)

Last week: 3
NET ranking: No. 3
Next up: vs. Bellarmine (Friday)
Comment: The biggest change in Provo has unfolded on the offensive end. Last year, the Cougars were 103rd in Division I in adjusted offensive efficiency (per Pomeroy ratings). This season, they are 15th.

4. Colorado State (10-1)

Last week: 4
NET ranking: No. 15
Next up: vs. LMU (Friday)
Comment: Rarely is the Hotline stumped by the name of an opponent, but we were wholly unfamiliar with CSU’s foe next week: Adams State. Turns out, the Grizzlies are a Division II team in Alamosa, Colo., that competes in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. You’re welcome.

5. Colorado (8-2)

Last week: 5
NET ranking: No. 38
Next up: vs. Utah Tech (Thursday)
Comment: The Buffaloes have scored at least 90 points in five of their 10 games and are shooting 40 percent from 3-point range and averaging 1.5 assists per turnover. With anything close to that level of efficiency in Pac-12 play, they should have no trouble finishing near the top of the standings.

6. Utah (8-2)

Last week: 6
NET ranking: No. 29
Next up: vs. Bellarmine (Wednesday)
Comment: After Bellarmine, the Utes open conference play at home against the Washington schools, then visit Arizona State. Which means they could be 12-2 — and ranked in the AP poll — heading into the bedlam of Tucson.

7. New Mexico (10-1)

Last week: 8
NET ranking: No. 27
Next up: vs. UC Irvine (Wednesday)
Comment: Why not slot the Lobos a bit higher? Because their weak-sauce schedule simply doesn’t justify it. But opportunity awaits on Jan. 2 when they visit Colorado State.

8. San Diego State (9-2)

Last week: 7
NET ranking: No. 23
Next up: vs. Stanford (Thursday)
Comment: It feels like March Madness all over again: The Aztecs have three wins by three points or less, and two of their last four victories featured the same final score: 63-62.

9. Utah State (11-1)

Last week: 9
NET ranking: No. 31
Next up: vs. ETSU (Friday)
Comment: What we said about New Mexico and its flimsy schedule applies to the Aggies, as well. Look closely, and you’ll see the bone has just a few slivers of meat.

10. Nevada (9-1)

Last week: 10
NET ranking: No. 43
Next up: vs. Temple (Thursday)
Comment: Nevada’s top scorer is guard Jarod Lucas, who gained some fame in March 2021 when he helped Oregon State reach the Elite Eight. Now as then, Lucas hoists 3-pointers from anywhere, any time.

11. Saint Mary’s (7-5)

Last week: Not ranked
NET ranking: No. 64
Next up: vs. Northern Kentucky (Thursday)
Comment: Sure, the Gaels have five losses. We prefer to focus on the victories over New Mexico, UNLV and Colorado State, with the latter coming just 11 days ago in Fort Collins.

12. Grand Canyon (9-1)

Last week: Not ranked
NET ranking: No. 33
Next up: vs. Sam Houston (Wednesday)
Comment: The best team in the WAC has just one loss, by seven points to South Carolina (10-1), and owns a victory over San Diego State. Coach Bryce Drew’s crew is legit.

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