Mountain West Basketball: 2018 Conference Tournament Preview
By Connor Hope
Semifinals
(1) Nevada vs. (4) Fresno State
Both teams in this matchup enter the game missing key players and sporting a short bench. Fresno State and Nevada are two of the grittiest teams in the Mountain West, and this game will prove it.
Fresno State, however, has nothing to lose and everything to gain in the Mountain West Tournament, and their players surely know that. Watch for Deshon Taylor and his teammates to leave everything on the court, as a loss in the conference tournament will end their NCAA Tournament hopes.
Nevada, on the other hand, is a lock for the NCAA Tournament far less healthy than Fresno State, but that doesn’t mean they will coast. Eric Musselman is one of the more eccentric coaches in the country and expects his team to play 40+ minutes at 110% effort every night.
This is my biggest, and only, upset pick in the Mountain West Tournament, as I have the Bulldogs knocking off the Wolf Pack.
Prediction: Fresno State 88 – Nevada 87
(2) Boise State vs. (3) New Mexico
While New Mexico would probably be a popular pick to trip up Boise State earlier in the tournament, the Broncos should have played themselves loose in their game against Utah State
The Broncos, in all likeliness, need to win the conference tournament and should come out with a fire to their effort. They barely beat the Lobos in the Pit and will want to control the game like they did in their game at home.
New Mexico, however, is no longer the surprise they were to start conference play. They know they have talent and know they can win this game. Look for Coach Weir to try isolating Chandler Hutchison in order to minimize his impact on the game.
While this game is sure to be fantastic, there just isn’t a clear way to stop Hutchison and the Broncos should be moving on to the final.
Prediction: Boise State 82 – New Mexico 76
Finals
(2) Boise State vs. (4) Fresno State
Both teams desperately need to win this game, and both teams have the talent to do just that. In this “winner gets a bid” matchup the star guards are going to determine who wins.
Boise State won the first matchup by six at home, but both teams have grown and improved since that January game. The defense of the Broncos will be trouble for the Bulldogs, who are missing Jaron Hopkins, the team’s leading assist man.
Fresno State also rely on their guards to win games, and without Hopkins the pressure will be entirely on Taylor to take over down the stretch. Unlike Boise State, however, Fresno State does not have a strong presence on the board and that could be a difference maker.
Next: Busting Brackets Bracketology
In the end, a healthy motivated Boise State team will be taking the Mountain West’s automatic-bid, sending two teams from the conference to the NCAA Tournament.
Prediction: Boise State 70 – Fresno State 67