Mountain West Basketball: 2022 conference tournament preview

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 22: The Mountain West logo on the floor before a college basketball game between the San Diego State Aztecs andthe UC San Diego Tritons at the Viejas Arena on December 22, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

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Mountain West Basketball Wyoming Cowboys Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports /

Quarterfinals – Thursday, March 10th

#1 Boise State vs. #8 Nevada – Noon PST

What does Nevada get as a reward for winning their first-round matchup on Wednesday? Oh, just a quarterfinals game on Thursday against the regular-season champions in Boise State. The Broncos and the Wolfpack met twice in the regular season with Boise State winning both matchups.

Boise State will make it three in a row with another win over Nevada in Las Vegas on Thursday afternoon. Boise State is just a team playing with so much confidence, and way more depth overall compared to Nevada. The Wolfpack has not really been able to put it together all year. Their disappointing 2021-2022 season will end in the quarterfinals.

Prediction: Boise State 76, Nevada 66

#4 Wyoming vs. #5 UNLV – 2:30 p.m. PST

The four verse five matchup is always so highly anticipated because of how close the teams finish in the regular season. The Rebels were able to upset the Cowboys last week on March 2nd with a big victory. Wyoming comes into this game going 2-3 in their last five games, so not playing extremely well, but again as I mentioned in the bracketology slide that they have had a great season up to this point and should be comfortably in the field of 68.

First-year coach Kevin Kruger at UNLV has done well this season. His players have bought in as well including star player Bryce Hamilton for the Rebels. This tournament is being played in Las Vegas, so this will be a home game for UNLV. The Rebels are playing with house money and will pull off the small upset over Wyoming.

Prediction: UNLV 65, Wyoming 63

#2 Colorado State vs. #7 Utah State – 6 p.m. PST

Colorado State and Utah State met twice in the regular season with the Rams winning both matchups over the Aggies. in the first meeting between these two programs guard David Roddy went off for 24 points, and then turned around and had 13 points and 10 rebounds to secure one of many double-doubles on the season. Utah State does have Justin Bean, but they have no answer for David Roddy.

Prediction: Colorado State 74, Utah State 67

#3 San Diego State vs. #6 Fresno State – 8:30 p.m. PST

There are a lot of intriguing matchups in the quarterfinals of this year’s Mountain West Conference Tournament, but this one featuring San Diego State and Fresno State is my favorite one. The Aztecs won both matchups on the season, but the latest game on March 3rd last Thursday was a great game. It had to go to double overtime to decide the outcome.

The matchup of Orlando Robinson and Nathan Mensah down low in the post is worth the price of admission by itself. Robinson keeps the Bulldogs in it again, but San Diego State prevails again and moves onto the semifinals to take on Colorado State.

Prediction: San Diego State 71, Fresno State 64