Mountain West Basketball: 2018 Conference Tournament Preview
By Connor Hope
Key Teams
Team to Beat: Nevada
Eric Musselman’s tenure with the Nevada Wolf Pack has been nothing short of fantastic, and this season his team of transfers has secured a second straight Mountain West Regular Season Championship. The Wolf Pack is a heavy favorite to earn the Mountain West’s automatic bid, almost ensuring the conference once again gets just one bid.
They will not be at full strength however, as Musselman will have just seven scholarship players, three of whom are playing while injured: Jordan Caroline with a broken pinky, Caleb Martin with a sprain in his foot and Kendall Stevens with ligament damage in his shooting thumb.
Biggest Threat: Boise State
Behind Nevada, Boise State has had the best season in the Mountain West, and is entering the conference tournament at full strength. Led by Mountain West Player of the Year Chandler Hutchison, the Broncos boast one of the best defenses in the conference and can score with the best of them. They are currently in need of a deep tournament run, or perhaps a championship performance, to earn an NCAA Tournament bid.
Watch Out For: San Diego State
After sitting in the bottom half of the conference standings for most of the season, San Diego State has won six straight games, including home victories over both Boise State and Nevada. By far the hottest team in the Mountain West, the Aztecs are playing their best basketball at the right time in the year. If they can win the game against Fresno State, a team that has beaten them twice this season, the Aztecs could be a trendy bit steal pick.