If Mountains Are Tall, Why Isn’t the Mountain West Better at Basketball?
Two days into the college basketball season, a curious question has surfaced everywhere—from loading docks to convention centers and even among school classrooms: Who will win the 2026 NIT? Yet, before answering that, we must consider another question: If the mountains are so tall, why does the Mountain West struggle in basketball?
The conversation began Monday when Boise State, a participant in the 2025 College Basketball Crown, surprisingly lost to Hawaii Pacific, a Division II school. This defeat was Boise State’s most crushing setback since Taco Bell chose not to renew naming rights for their arena.
Analysts quickly highlighted that Hawaii Pacific is located in Honolulu, their team is called the Sharks, and they play in an old shopping center named the Aloha Tower Marketplace.
It’s also worth noting that Washington State, another 2025 College Basketball Crown team, lost unexpectedly to Idaho in Pullman despite being heavy favorites.
The Mountain West’s troubles deepened last night. UNLV described its loss while “shorthanded”—noting the absence of Myles Che, a 2025 NIT fan favorite.
“How about you try winning a basketball game without 2025 NIT fan favorite Myles Che?”
Despite UT Martin being a Division I school, their victory over UNLV in the season opener highlighted the growing competitiveness and unpredictability within Division I basketball.
Summary
The Mountain West faces surprising early setbacks this season, questioning its basketball dominance despite high expectations and notable mountain-region teams.