Utah Utes in prime position for NCAA tourney bid

Who'd have thought two months ago, after those embarrassing losses to Southwest Baptist and Idaho State, that among the state's college basketball teams, Utah would have the best chance of making the NCAA tournament?

Despite BYU's great start, USU's phenomenal 23-1 record and Weber State's dominance in the Big Sky, the Utes are the best bet to make the NCAA tournament because of their outstanding RPI (Rating Percentage Index) number.

In the latest numbers that came out Sunday on RealTimeRPI, the Utes have moved up to No. 11 in the nation with a No. 12 strength of schedule. Barring a complete collapse, the Utes should make the NCAAs as an at-large team because 99 percent of teams that finish in the top 30 of the RPI rankings every year make the NCAA tournament ...

With the MWC basketball season just passing the halfway point, the Utes and San Diego State find themselves sharing the driver's seat. Both are 7-2 with three road wins to their credit and no home losses. That translates to plus-3 in the road win/home loss differential, and no one else in the league is better than plus-1, which is where BYU, New Mexico and UNLV find themselves. With the Aztecs coming to the Huntsman Center Wednesday, the winner that night could likely emerge as the league champion ...

If BYU can put together a strong second half in the MWC, the Cougars should also end up in the NCAA tournament. The 17-5 Cougars have an RPI rating of 34, but have a tough second half with road games at UNLV, San Diego State, TCU and Wyoming along with home games against Utah and New Mexico. If the Cougars can go 7-1 or even 6-2 in the rest of their league games, they should join Utah at the NCAA tournament regardless of whether they win the Las Vegas Invitational, er, I mean Mountain West Conference tournament. That would give the MWC three teams in the NCAAs with the Rebels going as the MWC tourney winner as usual ...

As for the Aggies, I think they'll still get in the NCAA tournament without winning the WAC tournament if they win the rest of their regular-season games. Can you imagine the NCAA committee passing up a 30-2 team? However, if the Ags drop two or three games and fail to win the WAC tourney in Reno, they could be looking at another NIT bid ...