Mountain West Basketball: 2022 conference tournament preview

Key Players

JR David Roddy – Colorado State

21-22: 19.5 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 2.8 apg

David Roddy has had a sensational junior season for the Rams. He may be listed as a guard, but Roddy is so much more than that and displays it every night playing bigger with his size on both ends of the floor. Roddy is the type of player who can put the team on his back to make a deep run in the big dance. In twenty-eight games this year David Roddy has only finished in single figures three times.

SO Graham Ike – Wyoming

21-22: 19.9 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 1.3 apg

Wyoming as mentioned earlier has made the biggest jump this season after finishing last year at 14-11, and under .500 in conference. A big key to the turnaround this year is the play of Graham Ike. The sophomore big man for Wyoming is literally almost averaging a double-double. A huge jump in his stats after only playing in twelve total games last season. It would be wrong to not mention guard Hunter Maldonado for the Cowboys as well. The senior guard is a huge reason why the Cowboys have had so much success in the regular season.

SR Abu Kigab – Boise State

21-22: 14.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 2.3 apg

Boise State won twenty-four games in the regular season. It is a team game, but you can look at Kigab for helping secure a majority of those games for the Broncos. The fifth-year senior in Kigab has reached double figures in scoring in 21 games this season. Coach Rice has a good core with three other players alongside Abu Kigab averaging double figures in scoring as well.

SR Matt Bradley – San Diego State

21-22: 17.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.6 apg

Matt Bradley has been the heart and soul of the Aztecs team this year. If you need proof look no further than his stats mentioned above here. The former University of California guard stepped in and really was relied on to be the main guy for them. After losing both Matt Mitchell and Jordan Schakel from the team last year the Aztecs needed somebody to be their leader. Bradley has come in and really thrived overall leading up to Mountain West Conference Tournament.

JR Grant Sherfield – Nevada

21-22: 18.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 6.5 apg

There have not been too many positives for Nevada this season,  but one of their positives is getting to watch Grant Sherfield. The junior guard has scored in double figures in twenty-three of twenty-six games. Senior guard Desmond Cambridge along with Sherfield are walking buckets for the Wolfpack.

SR Bryce Hamilton – UNLV

21-22: 21.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.2 apg

Bryce Hamilton is having a great senior season for the Rebels. Hamilton ended up leading the Mountain West in scoring with 675 total points in the regular season. Rebel fans do not want to know what their record would be without him on the team this season. Hamilton will need to put the team on his back if they are looking to make some noise in the upcoming conference tournament.

Orlando Robinson – Fresno State

21-22: 19.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 2.8 apg

Orlando Robinson is a guy who is nearly averaging a double-double for Fresno State. Orlando Robinson is not your typical back-to-the-basket big man either as he is able to take care of the ball, drive with it off the bounce, and the ability to hit shots from outside the paint comfortably as well. Orlando Robinson has a lot of scouts at the NBA level attention with his play overall.

Honorable mention: Justin Bean (Utah State), Jamal Washburn Jr. (New Mexico), Isaiah Stevens (Colorado State), and A.J. Walker (Air Force).