2017 Mountain West Tournament: Who will win and who will make a run?

By Connor Hope | Mar 6, 2017

Feb 22, 2017; Reno, NV, USA; Nevada Wolf Pack forward Cameron Oliver (0 celebrates with his teammates after taking the lead over the Boise State Broncos in the second half at Lawlor Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports /

The 2017 Mountain West Tournament is the best conference with only one projected NCAA Tournament bid, making its tournament the most intriguing to watch.

Just two years removed from a three-bid season, the Mountain West Conference is a single bid league for the second year in a row. With a tenth ranked average RPI, the Mountain West is the highest ranked conference with one projected NCAA bid.

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There are six or seven teams that could compete for the conference title, and whichever team wins has a shot to make some noise in the tournament.

While Nevada, Colorado State, and Boise State are the most likely teams to win, Fresno State, San Diego State, New Mexico, and Wyoming can all compete for the conference’s automatic bid.

So, who is the most likely team to win, and who could make a run?

Projected Winner: Nevada

It is no secret that the Nevada Wolf Pack have been the best team in the Mountain West this season. Eric Musselman is in his second season as head coach, taking over after three straight losing seasons in Reno. This year, his team went 25-6 (14-4 Mountain West), finishing in first place in the conference.

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Led by senior guard Marcus Marshall, Nevada has a balanced offense that tops the Mountain West in points, assists, and rebounds. Marshall averages 19.3 points per game in conference play and will be the X-factor in Nevada’s push for the tournament title.

Marshall is not the only scoring threat for the Wolf Pack. In fact, Nevada has four players ranked in the top 10 in points per game in Mountain West play.

Nevada is not just an offensive threat either. In fact, their defense ranks third in the Mountain West during conference play.

With this balance on both ends of the court, it is hard to see Nevada losing in the Mountain West Tournament.

Team That Could Make a Run: San Diego St.

Despite holding the sixth seed in the Mountain West Tournament, it is never smart to count Steve Fisher’s team out. The Aztecs are a squad that could surprise some people in this tournament.

It would not be a surprise to see the Aztecs in the tournament final against Nevada.

The key to the Aztecs success in the postseason stems from their defense. It is no secret that Coach Fisher likes to recruit length and elite defensive talent, and this season is no different.

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In conference play, the Aztecs averaged 63.2 points in scoring defense, 5.4 points fewer than any other team in the conference. This allowed them to win games despite having the conference’s worst offense. If the Aztecs are able to get hot scoring the ball, teams will have a tough time knocking them off.