The road has become a lot friendlier, or at least less hostile, in Mountain West Conference men’s basketball heading down the stretch.
Through the first 24 conference games, home teams were 19-5. In the past 24, home teams went 13-11.
San Diego State coach Steve Fisher attributes the change to familiarity.
“Scouting is such that you know everything your opponent is going to do and you are better prepared,” Fisher said on the league’s conference call. “It’s not just our league but everywhere.”
The Aztecs (16-7, 9-2) moved to the top of the MWC by winning at home and on the road in the first round of play. They play three of their next four on the road, including Thursday at Nevada-Las Vegas (13-9, 7-3).
There was no better example of MWC parity than how Wyoming fared last week. The Cowboys (12-12, 5-6) won at home at the buzzer against Texas Christian (5-19, 1-9) and lost at Air Force (19-5, 7-4) in the final second.
“The second time around, the home court isn’t near as big a deal because everyone knows each other so well,” Wyoming coach Steve McClain said.
The new McKay
Anytime New Mexico coach Ritchie McKay and McClain are on opposing benches, they guarantee a side contest to determine who can jump the highest and stomp the hardest when protesting the officiating.
Well, maybe not tonight when Wyoming plays Mc- Kay’s Lobos (15-9, 6-5) in Albuquerque.
McKay said it’s time he tones down his act. He told the Albuquerque Journal: “I feel like whining and screaming at refs is a bad witness of my faith. I decided to take a step back and coach the team, and this is allowing me to concentrate more on the team and coaching.”
During the conference call, McClain asked if that means there is a “kinder and gentler Ritchie” now on the sideline.
Coaches in the MWC are indeed getting less animated. Former Air Force coach Joe Scott and former Utah coach Rick Majerus were famous for their battles with refs.
Utah saluting Bogut
Andrew Bogut, the first player taken in last year’s NBA draft, will become the seventh Utah player to have his jersey retired during a ceremony Saturday before the Utes (12-10, 5-6) play Air Force in Salt Lake City.
Nuggets point guard Andre Miller is among the former Utah stars to have their jerseys retired.
Without Bogut, a 7-footer now playing for the Milwaukee Bucks, the Utes are struggling on the court and at the box office. Utah is averaging 10,261 fans per home game, down more than 2,000 a game from last season.
Utah is offering $4 tickets for upper-level seats at the AFA game in honor of Bogut’s jersey number.
Wyoming guard Brandon Ewing, meanwhile, is on the verge of breaking Bogut’s freshman scoring record in MWC games. Ewing needs 11 points to eclipse Bogut’s record of 182 points.
Footnotes
Every 20-win team in MWC history has received at least an NIT berth. Air Force’s 19 wins lead the MWC this season. … San Diego State freshman Kyle Spain remains indefinitely suspended for an undisclosed team-rules violation.
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-820-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
