Utah is clearly the class of the Mountain West right now after avenging an early loss to UNLV. Now the question becomes is Utah the best team in the West right now? The Pac-10 folks with Washington, Arizona State and UCLA might beg to differ. All three teams are ranked in the Top 25, and Cal holds an early season win over Utah. (And before you even mention Gonzaga, realized that Utah owns a recent win over the Bulldogs.)
So be honest, if you were filling out our tournament bracket today, would you pick any of those three to beat the Utes?
Don't answer too quickly, and take some time to consider just how well the Utes are playing right now in one of the most underrated conferences in college basketball. Though some of the less educated college basketball fans haven't quite caught on to the Mountain West just yet.
The Utes have won eight consecutive games since leaving Las Vegas a few weeks ago. And they aren't beating the mid-card, curtain-jerkers either. Utah has notched wins over all four of its closest rivals, UNLV, BYU, San Diego State and New Mexico.
More importantly, Utah has avoided the pratfalls that have befallen its Pac-10 counterparts. The Mountain West is just as competitive and even as the Pac-10, but Utah has taken care of business. Look at all of the Top 25 teams that have stumbled. Hell, look at the No. 1 teams that can't seem to hold the top spot for more than a week.
Utah has kept winning during that time.
Luke Nevill was really impressive against UNLV, notching a double-double. Nevill disappeared during the second half against the Rebels out in Las Vegas, but he was a constant force on Wednesday night. Nevill gives the Utes a matchup advantage against some of the bigger teams and remember this when you are filling out your tournament brackets.
But before we crown the Utes -- and more likely jinx them -- realize that Utah does have some tough games remaining. Utah will play at Provon on Saturday and follow that up with a game at New Mexico on Tuesday. A split in one of those games should just about give Utah the conference title.
And maybe more importantly, the title of best team in the West.
