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Jdur
5412026 was a great year for Aggie basketball with both the Men's and Women's teams having successful seasons. While the championship in Vegas didn't lead to March Madness glory, both teams finished with positive records and momentum heading into the 2027 season. This upcoming season will present big challenges paired with overwhelming excitement as the Aggies head into their first season as members of the Mountain West Conference. While leaving our UC and CSU friends in the Big West will be an adjustment, the Mountain West provides new opportunities for the Aggies on a bigger national stage. Hopefully the Ags can still play some non-conference games against Big West members. I wanted to open this thread for general discussion about this next season, conference conversations and general rumblings about the future of Aggie basketball.
For quick reference, here is a list of some general info on our new conference competitors in the MW:
United States Air Force Academy
- Enrollment: ~4,100
- Fun Fact: Every student is a cadet receives a full scholarship with mandatory military service.
- Joined Mountain West: 1999 (founding member)
- Basketball Arena: Clune Arena (Capacity: 5,858)
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
- Enrollment: ~19,000
- Fun Fact: The only Division I basketball school located outside the continental United States.
- Joined Mountain West: 2012 (football-only), becoming a full member in 2026
- Basketball Arena: Stan Sheriff Center (Capacity: 10,300)
University of Nevada, Reno
- Enrollment: ~21,000
- Fun Fact: First university founded in the state of Nevada.
- Joined Mountain West: 2012
- Basketball Arena: Lawlor Events Center (Capacity: 12,000)
University of New Mexico
- Enrollment: ~21,000
- Fun Fact: “The Pit” is considered one of the loudest environments in college basketball.
- Joined Mountain West: 1999 (founding member)
- Basketball Arena: University Arena “The Pit” (Capacity: 15,411)
San José State University
- Enrollment: ~36,000
- Fun Fact: Founded in 1857, it is the oldest public university on the West Coast.
- Joined Mountain West: 2013
- Basketball Arena: Provident Credit Union Event Center (Capacity: ~5,000)
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
- Enrollment: ~31,000
- Fun Fact: Won the 1990 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship under coach Jerry Tarkanian.
- Joined Mountain West: 1999 (founding member)
- Basketball Arena: Thomas & Mack Center (Capacity: ~18,000)
University of Texas at El Paso
- Enrollment: ~24,000
- Fun Fact: Won the 1966 NCAA Championship with the first all-Black starting lineup to win the title.
- Joining Mountain West: 2026
- Basketball Arena: Don Haskins Center (Capacity: 12,222)
University of Wyoming
- Enrollment: ~12,000
- Fun Fact: Located at over 7,000 feet elevation, making it he highest Division 1 campuses.
- Joined Mountain West: 1999 (founding member)
- Basketball Arena: Arena-Auditorium (Capacity: ~11,600)
Grand Canyon University
- Enrollment: ~25,000 on campus (100,000+ including online)
- Fun Fact: Known for one of the energetic student sections called the “Havocs.”
- Joined Mountain West: 2025
- Basketball Arena: Global Credit Union Arena (Capacity: 7,500)
University of California, Davis
- Enrollment: ~39,000
- Fun Fact: The UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory, located on the Bodega Bay coast, is the oldest marine lab on the U.S. West Coast still in operation.
- Joining the Mountain West: 2026
- Basketball Arena: University Credit Union Center (Capacity: 6,003) -
Toke69
531We already know that the Mountain West’s 10 team basketball schedule will involve the same home and away round robin that the Big West has been using. That’s a good thing for the sake of fairness. I do not like the way larger conferences can’t possibly do that with 14 to 18 schools, so there is an automatic imbalance in their schedules.
For what it’s worth, here are the nine teams that UC Davis will be playing next season with their MWC (unless otherwise noted) 2025-26 records, including any league tournament games in brackets [ ]:
Air Force (3-28, 0-20) [MWC 0-1]
Grand Canyon (20-11, 13-7) [MWC 0-1]
Hawai`i (Big West, 22-8, 14-6) [BW 1-?]
Nevada (20-11, 12-8) [MWC 2-1]
Nevada Las Vegas (16-15, 12-8) [MWC 1-1]
New Mexico (22-6, 13-7) [MWC 1-1]
San Jose State (8-23, 3-17) [MWC 1-1 ]
Texas El Paso (Conference USA, 11-20, 7-13) [None]
Wyoming (18-13, 9-11) [MWC 0-1]
Leaving the Mountain West are Boise State, Utah State, Colorado State, San Diego State and Fresno State. They are joining Oregon State, Washington State and Texas State in the Pac-State-12 conference.
Given the above, where do you think the Aggies might finish next season? My guess is no lower than 7th because there seems to be three pretty bad teams in the Mountain West, but no higher than 4th because there are three pretty good teams (assuming they don’t change much).
For future reference, I think this is a free online streaming service for MWC basketball: https://themw.com/watch/?sport=13 -
BlueGoldAg
1.7kThis seems to always be the case for Aggie Athletics compared to most other schools we are trying to be competitive with. -
BlueGoldAg
1.7kI'm sorry to see Cooper entering the portal. I know his injuries made it tough for him this season but I felt like he brought a toughness and quiet leadership to the team. He was also cheering on his teammates even though injuries were keeping him off the floor. He'll be missed in my opinion.
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movielover
741We have no high school offers out? Regular signing period is April 15th.
So we lose Cooper and Rocak. -
newaggieparent29
19If the UCD women are looking for transfers, Whitney High School's Harper Peterson is in the portal. Had injuries/didn't get much PT her first two years at Stanford. -
DrMike
1.3kme too. i didn't see him as a probable candidate to leave since his playing time reduction was due to injuries (mostly). he was showcased in the offense quite a bit. maybe he'll be like Tomba and end up in a power-4 conference as a starter. -
MTBAggie
296I guess just a feeling when you see kids that seem to have some sort of undisclosed injury, then just sit in street clothes the remainder of the season. This season he seemed to look unhappy quite often. I just got the feeling something happened between him and Les and they came to a mutual agreement. But, maybe that something was that Les knew he was entering the portal. -
TrainingRm67
218I'm pretty sure Jen Gross and her staff will be looking for post players, either in the portal or the regular spring signing period. Currently, we have 1 incoming freshman to play the post and no returning post players. I doubt the plan is to go through another season with only 1 post player - an inexperienced one to boot.
There are several intriguing possibilities in the portal already, and I'm sure a few more to come. IMHO, Peterson is one of them, her time on the Farm certainly didn't boost her stock. I imagine how hard the Aggies look at her will be largely based on their evaluation of her coming out of high school. -
Oldbanduhalum
709Yeah this was my thought also. I know injuries really hampered his BW season, but it felt like at times there was something else going on that was keeping him on the bench. No actual knowledge of anything particular, but just by trying to read body language. Plus, and I don't know if the numbers actually bare this out, but I'm never surprised when someone who has already transfers decides to transfer again. -
DrMike
1.3kI’m not big on things like body language - all I can go on is what I actually saw and that was the trainer trying to wrap what looked like a groin injury in a home game where he started hot and sat most the second half. That’s just before he had a big road game vs Fullerton and sat the rest of the season. There was definitely an injury. I don’t think we make a habit of disclosing injuries.
As for an ‘agreement’, I don’t think he’d have travelled to Henderson if it was an accepted fact. -
SoCalAggie
140Cooper when healthy during the first half of the year was an all star. He should be able to get to a bigger program although I wish he was with us for one more…
I’m surprised by stokes. He got playing time as a freshman and he was fine, not spectacular by any means. He was a role player in the big west, not even close to the best player in our league. If he gets picked up it’s from an equal or lesser program at the big west level, not mountain west… -
DrMike
1.3kStokes transferring is a hit but that was the guy I was most worried about. Not sure who else offered him out of high school, but he was a high level player at Daugherty Valley. Worried me that it took awhile for him to get significant minutes before he became a starter. Woolf t be shocked to see him in the WCC.
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BlueGoldAg
1.7kI think Stokes brought a needed toughness to the team and he has a huge upside since was only a freshman who earned his way into the starting lineup.
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movielover
741Except he won't utilize them, and when he does, it's mainly the dirty work.
BTW, Mani went to Fresno, 6 PPG and 2.6 RPG, and is transferring. Les said he was the best big man he's seen here? -
DrMike
1.3khmmmm…I don’t see him finding a better spot. Makes you wonder if the school isn’t a great fit.
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Oldbanduhalum
709Yeah that's a good point. I know I'm guilty of just assuming these transfer kids are always looking for the dollars, or maybe something closer to home. But i'm sure there are times when the school just isn't the right fit for the kid. Regardless, hope all 3 that Aggies that are in the portal find the right place for them.
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