New Mexico and UNLV have long been the best basketball schools in the Mountain West. Utah State has been to 9 NCAA tourney games since 2000. Nevada went every season from 2004-7 and even made the Sweet 16. San Diego State has been in 9 games since 2002 and made the Sweet 16 two times. Fresno State got in the tourney twice with the late Jerry Tarkanian in the early 2000's. 

Now Boise State can make their second dance in the last 3 years. And, there is a good chance they can get as high as a #10 seed and even win their first game ever. Maybe this is the start of a long run for Leon Rice. Next years team looks solid wih Drimic, Duncan and Webb.  The gold years may be just begining…