KenPom rankings: Boise State dips ahead of must-win game against New Mexico

The Boise State men’s basketball team has backed itself into a corner.

Sitting in fifth place in the Mountain West Conference standings with six regular-season games remaining, the Broncos (17-8, 9-5) are on the fringe of NCAA Tournament at-large consideration.

To return to the bubble, Boise State must defeat MWC-leading New Mexico (22-4, 14-1) at 8 p.m. Mountain time Wednesday night at ExtraMile Arena. The Lobos blasted the Broncos at The Pit last month, 84-65.

Boise State, which tumbled to No. 50 in the KenPom rankings following a 64-47 loss at San Diego State (17-6, 10-4), needs to win its final six regular-season games to return to the bubble. The MWC Tournament will likely be the Broncos’ best chance at securing a fourth straight NCAA Tournament bid.

New Mexico is the top-ranked MWC team in KenPom at No. 38, followed by No. 42 San Diego State, No. 49 Utah State (22-4, 12-3), Boise State and No. 71 Colorado State (16-9, 10-4).

Here is a look at each Mountain West team’s KenPom resume:

New Mexico

Overall rating: 38

Overall record: 22-4

Net rating: +17.48

Offensive rating: 70

Defensive rating: 26

Strength of schedule: 80

San Diego State

Overall rating: 42

Overall record: 17-6

Net rating: +16.59

Offensive rating: 127

Defensive rating: 7

Strength of schedule: 59

Utah State

Overall rating: 49

Overall record: 22-4

Net rating: +15.61

Offensive rating: 18

Defensive rating: 117

Strength of schedule: 89

Boise State

Overall rating: 50

Overall record: 17-8

Net rating: +15.60

Offensive rating: 53

Defensive rating: 59

Strength of schedule: 87

Colorado State

Overall rating: 71

Overall record: 16-9

Net rating: +11.65

Offensive rating: 65

Defensive rating: 88

Strength of schedule: 86

Nevada

Overall rating: 74

Overall record: 15-10

Net rating: +10.96

Offensive rating: 72

Defensive rating: 89

Strength of schedule: 96

UNLV

Overall rating: 96

Overall record: 14-12

Net rating: +6.79

Offensive rating: 136

Defensive rating: 81

Strength of schedule: 82

San Jose State

Overall rating: 171

Overall record: 12-15

Net rating: -0.37

Offensive rating: 140

Defensive rating: 211

Strength of schedule: 93

Wyoming

Overall rating: 175

Overall record: 11-15

Net rating: -.0.89

Offensive rating: 232

Defensive rating: 125

Strength of schedule: 75

Fresno State

Overall rating: 256

Overall record: 5-21

Net rating: -7.50

Offensive rating: 295

Defensive rating: 192

Strength of schedule: 73

Air Force

Overall rating: 310

Overall record: 3-22

Net rating: -12.53

Offensive rating: 305

Defensive rating: 281

Strength of schedule: 99

MORE BOISE STATE NEWS & ANALYSIS

NET Rankings update: Boise State drops to No. 48

Mountain West men’s basketball update: New Mexico closing in on conference title

What Boise State forward Tyson Degenhart said after disappointing San Diego State loss

What head coach Leon Rice said after Boise State’s blowout loss to San Diego State

San Diego State swats, smothers Broncos: 3 takeaways from Boise State’s Mountain West Conference loss

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