This is the 7th article in a series previewing each team and position rankings in the Mountain West leading up to the 2024-2025 basketball season

MW Rankings:

5. New Mexico

6. UNLV (Link): Mountain West Basketball Countdown – #6 UNLV | Big Blue USU Aggie News

7. Colorado State (Link): Mountain West Basketball Countdown – #7 Colorado State | Big Blue USU Aggie News

8. San Jose State (Link): Mountain West Basketball Countdown – #8 San Jose State | Big Blue USU Aggie News

9. Wyoming (Link): Mountain West Basketball Countdown – #9 Wyoming | Big Blue USU Aggie News

10. Air Force (Link): Mountain West Basketball Countdown – #10 Air Force | Big Blue USU Aggie News

11. Fresno State (Link): Mountain West Basketball Countdown – #11 Fresno State | Big Blue USU Aggie News

Prior Season Results and Predictions:

  • Record: 26-10 overall, 10-8 conference
  • My Prediction:  Top 3 in the MW
  • Summary: After finishing 6th in the conference in the regular season, New Mexico went on to win the conference tournament to ensure a spot in the NCAA field.  They lost to a red-hot Clemson team in the first round.
  • All Conference Players/Other Awards: Donovan Dent (2nd team), Mustapha Amzil (Co sixth-man), JT Toppin (Co-Freshman, 2nd team), Jaelen House (Defense, 3rd team),

Metrics for the last 5 Seasons:

  • Conference Regular Season Winning %: 36.4% (ranked 9th in conference)
  • Conference Regular Season Champion: 0 (Tied for 4th in the conference)
  • Conference Tournament Champion:  1 (Tied for 2nd in the conference)
  • NCAA Tournament Appearances:  1 (Tied for 6th in the conference)
  • NCAA Tournament Wins: 0 (Tied for 4th in the conference)

2024-2025 Season Review:

Conference Prediction: #5 in the Mountain West

Overview: New Mexico looks to turn over the reins of the team to Donovan Dent.  The rising junior was named 2nd team all MWC last year and looks to be one of the most dynamic returning players to the league.  New Mexico brings back one of the best defensive big men in the league in Nelly Joseph and co-sixth man of the year Mustapha Amzil looks to increase his role as a potential starter.  New Mexico also reached into the transfer portal to build big man depth and added a key guard in North Texas transfer CJ Noland.

Production Returning: Scoring 47% (returning), Rebounding 51%, Assists 57%, Blocks 53%, Minutes 50%

Key losses:  Jaelen House (Graduation), Jamal Mashburn (Transfer to Temple), JT Toppin (Transfer to Texas Tech), Jemarl Baker (Graduation)

Key Returners:  Donovan Dent (All conference pg), Nelly Joseph (starting center), Mustapha Amzil (key bench contributor), Tru Washington (rising sophomore who flashed potential in his true freshman year)

Newcomers:

  • CJ Noland:  Double digit scorer from North Texas.  Guard was a former all freshman player at Oklahoma
  • Kayde Dotson:  3-star point guard recruit.
  • Atiki Ally Atiki:  Transfer from BYU, defensive specialist big man.
  • Ibrahima Sacko:  Bench contributor as a freshman at Georgia Tech.
  • Filip Borovicanin:  Forward transfer from Arizona where he played as a bench player.
  • Daniel Thomas:  3-star power forward recruit.
  • Jovan Milicevic:  3-star power forward recruit.

Strongest Position: Guard/Wings.  Donovan Dent has potential MWC POY potential, CJ Noland also has all-league potential, and Tru Washington will be relied upon to be a key back up/starter with high upside.

Biggest Question Mark(s):  Can they have consistent scoring from both forward and center spots?  Nelly is more of a defensive force, Amzil is more of a specialist.  Borovicanin has lots of unproven potential.

Projected Starters:  Donovan Dent (Guard), CJ Noland (Guard), Tru Washington (Guard), Mustapha Amzil (Forward), Nelly Joseph (Center)

Bench: Kayde Dotson (Guard), Quinton Webb (Guard), Filip Borovicanin (Forward), Ibrahima Sacko/Jovan Milicevic (Forward), Atiki Ally Atiki (Center)

Potential All Conference Guys: Donovan Dent, CJ Noland, Nelly Joseph

Key Non-Conference Games: UCLA (Away), St Johns (Away), Arizona State (Neutral), VCU (Home)