2 weeks into the MWC season, and SDSU is the team to beat

After two weeks of Mountain West basketball, San Diego State has risen above the rest.

The Aztecs stand 14-4 overall and 4-0 in the league heading into the Marriott Center Wednesday night, when they'll attempt to bring a 40-game Cougar home-court winning streak to an end.

If SDSU accomplishes that feat, then they are the rabbit the rest the conference must chase for the remainder of the season.

Steve Fisher's squad, once again the most talented in the league, got a win at New Mexico, held off Utah in overtime and took care of TCU and Wyoming at home.

But a loss to Northern Colorado the first week of January — after beating TCU 64-57 and beating the Lobos in the Pit — leaves some head scratching over Fisher's SDSU team.

Two weeks in the MWC season, ranking the contenders is debatable. TCU (11-6 and 3-1) is in second place, followed by UNLV and BYU, both with 2-1 records. The middle of the pack is occupied by New Mexico and Air Force at 2-2, followed by 1-2 Utah and then winless CSU and Wyoming.

BYU is the next in line to try and put a blemish on the Aztecs' record, and Cougar coach Dave Rose is impressed with what he's seen from SDSU so far.

"Competitive and talented" is how Rose labels the league leader.

Led by Louisville transfer Lorenzo Wade and Marquette transfer Ryan Amboroso, the Aztecs have a blend of speed, shooters and defenders to beat any team in the league.

"They are very unselfish," said Rose. "Steve has them really working hard to run sets, and when they don't score, they are unselfish and talented enough to find a way to get off good shots with the clock winding down.

"If it isn't there, they have another gear to get another play. If they miss, they are very quick to the ball and can get second and third shots."

MWC at midseason

BEST PLAYERS

SDSU's Lorenzo Wade, UNM's J.R. Giddens and BYU's Lee Cummard, with Wyoming's Brandon Ewing knocking on the door.

BEST GAMES

SDSU's overtime win over Utah and the Aztecs' win over New Mexico in the Pit.

KEY FACTOR