Air Force’s candidacy for making the NCAA Tournament, as well as all other at-large candidates, will be judged on merit and not on conference affiliation, according to Karl Benson, commissioner of the Western Athletic Conference and a member of the tournament’s 10-person selection committee.
Benson takes exception to talk floating around college basketball that groups the Mountain West Conference with “mid-major” leagues getting only one NCAA representative.
“When we evaluate teams, conference affiliation doesn’t come into play,” he said Tuesday. “From a committee standpoint, we’re interested in what a team has done this season and not what it did last year. I don’t know where the term ‘mid- major’ comes from. I know that neither the WAC nor the Mountain West Conference would be classified ‘mid-major.”‘
Benson said he believes two or three MWC teams, including Air Force (24-5), will get strong consideration for an at-large berth if they don’t win the automatic bid that goes to the conference tournament winner.
San Diego State (21-8) won the MWC regular-season championship and is all but considered a lock to get in. Brigham Young (20-7) has made a late push to be considered an at- large contender.
“Any team with 22, 23, 24 victories, whether it’s Air Force or George Mason, deserves strong consideration,” Benson said. “It’s obvious that Air Force went out and played a competitive nonconference schedule. Winning in the conference tournament just adds to the résumé.”
The Falcons play their MWC Tournament opener Thursday at the Pepsi Center as the No. 2 seed against Wyoming.
There are 34 at-large slots to the NCAA Tournament, but teams already considered locks from power conferences quickly fill those berths. Throw in some upsets in conference tournaments and more “bubble” teams such as Air Force get nervous. Various bracket “experts” have included Air Force among a large group of teams vying for one of the final at-large slots.
“It’s not unusual to have 15, 20 openings after the automatic qualifiers and teams considered locks,” said Dave Worlock, associate director for NCAA Division I men’s basketball. “There could be twice as many teams in consideration (this year) for those 15 to 20 slots.”
If the Falcons don’t land an NCAA berth, it’s almost certain they would play in the National Invitation Tournament.
“We are ready to host a first- round NIT game,” AFA athletic director Hans Mueh said. “But I’ve seen only one prediction on the NCAA field that doesn’t have us among the 64.”
Air Force coach Jeff Bzdelik looks at the MWC through the eyes of a former NBA coach.
“Am I a conference supporter? Yes, I am,” he said. “Are we the ACC, Big Ten? No, but you know what, we’re pretty good. In my mind, I think a couple of teams from this league should go. That’s my opinion.”
Irv Moss can be reached at 303-820-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
