Last season, the combined basketball conferences based in the western third of the United States secured six general slots to the NCAA Tournament.
Nine months later, the 2022-23 season is no longer in its early stages, but the region is well positioned for year-on-year improvement.
Six conferences have 13 teams with enough resumes to consider, based on the latest NET rankings that serve as a useful guide for identifying large-scale candidates.
In all, there are nine teams, taking into account the automatic qualifiers for each conference in the .NET Top 50.
Maintaining these positions is no easy task. Two or three big losses can ruin your rankings forever. But with Pac-12 and Mountain West leading the way, the region looks a little deeper than last year.
By the end of January, the framework should be in place.
Our guess is that the land total for the entire region is on the high side of 6.
To the latest Best of the West ranking…
*** Disclaimer: In some cases, the order below does not reflect the placement of AP’s top 25 votes as tracked according to guidelines provided by AP.
The following are also considered: Boise State University, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Seattle, UC Santa Barbara
(Net ranking until Wednesday game)
1. Arizona (9-1/1-1 Pac-12)
last week: 2 results: Indiana beat 89-75 and Texas A&M-Corpus Christie 99-61 Next: vs. Tennessee (Saturday) Net Rankings: Road ahead of No. 11 Tommy Lloyd & Company. Good thing the Wildcats are exempt from the 2021 NCAA.
2.UCLA (9-2/2-0 Pac-12)
Last Week: 3 Results: Beat Denver 87-64 and Maryland 87-60 Next: vs. Kentucky (Saturday) NET Ranking: 6th Comment: If we said the Bruins only scored 27 points , beating Maryland by 27 points (total) ) From Tyger Campbell, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Amari Bailey, you might have wondered: On what planet? Answer: Planet Singleton.
3. Gonzaga (8-3)
Last Week: 1 Result: Beat Washington 77-60 and Northern Illinois 88-67 Next: Vs. Alabama (Saturday) NET Ranking: No. 18 Comments: Fresh from beating No. 1 Houston, the Crimson Tide is the final heavyweight on Gonzaga’s schedule. Class. Before the WCC play heats up. Zag is 4-3 against the Power Conference competition.
4. New Mexico (10-0)
Last Week: 5 Results: Beat UTSA 94-76 and USF 67-64 Next: vs. Iona (Sunday) NET Rankings: 24th Comment: Jamal Mashburn Jr. and Jalen House (father: Eddie) are the best teammates a pair. I am also the son of a former player and have watched all seasons.
5. Arizona (10-1/2-0 Pac-12)
Last Week: 6 Results: Beat Clayton 73-71 Next: vs. San Diego (Sun) Net Ranking: 26th Comment: Sun Devils 5-1 in a 5-or-less game. Perhaps relevant: His four leaders in minutes played have all shot over his 70% from the foul line.
6. UNLV (10-0)
Last Week: 7 Result: Beat WSU 74-70 Next: Vs. San Francisco (Saturday) NET Ranking: 36th Comment: And Defense Leads: Rebels Nationwide in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency (according to Pomeroy Rating) 128th, but No. 37 defensively.
7. Utah (9-2/2-0 Pac-12)
Last Week: 8 Results: Jacksonville State beat 99-58 and UTSA 91-70 Next: Brigham Young (Saturday) NET Ranking: No. 21 Comments: Branden Carlson in Utah’s 2-loss: 3 baskets (total). Utah’s Branden Carlson has 9 wins: 63 baskets. (You can divide, but you get the big picture.)
8. Saint Mary (9-3)
Last Week: 9 Results: San Diego 68-61, beat New Mexico 81-68 Next: vs. Colorado (Sunday) NET Ranking: 15th Comment: Gales and their core five don’t roll out frenetic tempo. Still, deep development is critical to breakthrough success.
9. San Diego (8-3)
Last Week: 4 Results: 68-61 Lost to St. Mary’s, 88-54 Win to Kennesaw State Next Game: vs. UC San Diego (Tuesday) NET Ranking: 41st Comment: Ohio State win is getting a little sad . Aztecs are able to capitalize on another quality win before MW play heats up.
10. Utah (8-0)
Last Week: 10 Result: Won LMU 79-67 Next Match: vs. Westminster (Thursday) NET Ranking: 12th Comment: Some NET Rankings make perfect sense early in this season there is. Honestly, Utah State University isn’t the one that he is.
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