College basketball bubble watch: Week 6

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 14: Head coach Chris Mullin of St. John's in action against Central Connecticut State during an NCAA basketball game at Carnesecca Arena on November 16, 2017 in the Jamaica neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /

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BOISE, ID – DECEMBER 3: Head coach Leon Rice of the Boise State Broncos talks with his team during a time out during second half action against the Portland Pilots on December 3, 2017 at Taco Bell Arena in Boise, Idaho. Boise State won the game 77-54. (Photo by Loren Orr/Getty Images) /

4. Boise State Broncos

The Mountain West looks strong enough to get multiple teams into the Big Dance for the first time in three years, with Boise State emerging as an at-large possibility should the Broncos fail in the conference tournament.

Boise State is off to a strong 9-1 start, including five straight wins since losing to Iowa State back on Nov. 19 in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off final. With a smattering of good wins on its resume like at Oregon and on a neutral court against Illinois State, Boise State is likely just on the right side of the cut line for now.

Even so, the Broncos won’t have much margin for error even in an improved Mountain West, making the next two weeks of nonconference play crucial for their tournament hopes. Boise State faces its most important week yet with a home game against sneaky good Grand Canyon on Wednesday before a trip to SMU on Monday.

Opponents are shooting just 39.2 percent from the field overall against the Broncos, who do an excellent job of running teams off the 3-point line and cleaning up on the glass. Senior guard Chandler Hutchinson is terrific when fully healthy, and has some support in the backcourt this season from improving sophomore Justinian Jessup.

A loss to the Antelopes wouldn’t look good even if they are 7-2, and Monday’s contest in Dallas will provide the Broncos with an opportunity for their best nonconference win of the year.