Bracketologists say a record four Mountain West Conference men’s teams should go to the NCAA Tournament — Brigham Young, Utah and New Mexico, which all shared the league’s regular-season championship, plus Nevada-Las Vegas. MWC coaches naturally want at least that many.
BYU and Utah are as good as in. Most projections list New Mexico among the last four teams in the country to make the NCAA Tournament field after a five-game win streak provided the Lobos’ title share. UNLV, with the MWC’s marquee nonconference win at Big East champion Louisville, also appears on some bracket projections.
Don’t talk to BYU coach Dave Rose or Utah coach Jim Boylen about MWC Tournament results in Las Vegas this week only counting for NCAA seeding the following week.
“Everyone tells us we’re a lock,” Boylen told reporters Monday on the MWC conference call. “I talk about getting better every day and improving.”
Rose said, “The urgency to win games is at a pretty high level.”
Most dangerous lower-bracket seeds
No. 5 UNLV (21-9): Home-court advantage. If UNLV wins it all for the third straight year in Las Vegas, the league won’t be able to move out of Sin City fast enough to please other eight coaches.
No. 6 Wyoming (18-12): The sixth seed has fared well in the MWC Tournament, going 6-3 in the quarterfinals and 9-8 overall.
Five players to watch
Utah C Luke Nevill: Figures to get plenty of attention as the MWC player of the year.
New Mexico F Tony Danridge: On the all-MWC first team.
BYU G Jimmer Fredette: Scoring average (16 points per game) leads MWC sophomores.
Wyoming G Brandon Ewing: Now a four-time all-MWC player.
UNLV G Wink Adams: The tournament’s MVP last season.
NCAA Tournament outlook
Locks
Utah (21-9): Utes, with star Luke Nevill, below, played the toughest nonconference schedule, have a No. 11 RPI and key wins over LSU and Gonzaga.
BYU (24-6): MWC’s top seed has a No. 21 RPI, but beating Utah State is the Cougars’ only significant nonconference win.
Bubbles
New Mexico (21-10): Lost in first round last year as No. 3 seed. Biggest strength is strong finish after the usual lackluster nonconference schedule. No. 58 RPI.
UNLV (21-9): Fifth place a disappointment for preseason favorite, especially after the Rebels beat Louisville. With a No. 55 RPI, might have to get to the championship game to make NCAA field.
San Diego State (21-8): No special nonleague wins for Aztecs. Swept UNLV and beat Utah. No. 43 RPI. Associated Press file photo
Schedule
Today
Game 1: Colorado State (9-21) vs. Air Force (9-20), 3 p.m., MTN
Thursday
Game 2: BYU (24-6) vs. CSU-AFA winner, 1 p.m., MTN
Game 3: San Diego State (21-8) vs. UNLV (21-9), 3:30 p.m., MTN
Game 4: Utah (21-9) vs. TCU (14-16), 7 p.m., MTN
Game 5: New Mexico (21-10) vs. Wyo. (18-12), 9:30 p.m., MTN
Friday
Semifinal 1: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner, 7 p.m., CBSCS
Semifinal 2: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 9:30 p.m., CBSCS
Saturday
Championship: Semifinal winners, 5 p.m., VS
