Conference Tournament Preview: The Mountain West

Where: Thomas and Mack Center, Las Vegas

When: March 10th-13th

Final: 7:00 pm Versus



Favorite: New Mexico Lobos

The Lobos have been the best team in the MWC all season long. They won their first 12 games of the season which included victories over Texas A&M and Cal. They beat Texas Tech and Dayton. After losing their first two games in league play, the Lobos reeled off 14 straight to win the MWC regular season title. In that streak was a sweep of MWC runner up BYU.

Darington Hobson is as versatile a player as you will find on this level.
(photo credit: Beyond the Arc)

The first player you have to talk about when discussing New Mexico is Darington Hobson. A 6'6" forward, Harington's biggest strength is his ability to play multiple positions. He is a playmaker and can handle the ball, but it also strong enough to mix it up in the paint with the big boys. Remember the game winning block he had against BYU? But he is far from the only player that the Lobos have. Roman Martinez has turned into an assassin, a lefty small forward with a knack for knocking down big shots. Dairese Gary has been great this year, outplaying Jimmer Fredette in their two matchups, averaging 24.0 ppg and 5.0 apg.


And if they lose?: BYU Cougars

If New Mexico is the best team in the league, BYU is very close second. Their two losses to New Mexico came by a total of six points. The Cougars are one of the more exciting teams to watch not only in the MWC, but in the country as a whole. They are a team that likes to get out and run the floor, led by one of the most talented point guards in the country in Jimmer Fredette. Fredette reminds me a lot of Steve Nash. He's not all that athletic, but when he has crafty, ankle breaking handle, can shoot out to about 25 feet, and has a knack for finishing nifty leaners in the paint.

Jimmer Fredette reminds some of a young Steve Nash.
(photo credit: Deseret News)

But he is far from the only talent on this team. With Tyler Hawes, Jackson Emery, and Jonathon Tavernari on the roster, this team can play with essentially three shooting guards on the floor, opening up driving lanes creating a lot of space for a guy like Fredette to create. Michael Loyd has proven a more-than-capable back up at the point, and Chris Miles and Noah Hartsock are tough interior players. BYU can put up a lot of points in a hurry, and if they get hot, can play with anyone in the country.


Don't count out: San Diego State Aztecs and UNLV Runnin Rebels

Both the Aztecs and the Rebels have more to play for than just an MWC title. Both are still trying to solidify a pot in the tournament. UNLV is probably safer at this point, as most are projecting them somewhere around a nine seed based on some quality out of conference wins and a W against both BYU and New Mexico. Tre'Von Willis heads up a very good group of perimeter players, but if there is an achilles heel to this team, it is their interior play.

San Diego State is on the other end of the spectrum, as their team is built around the interior play of Billy White, Malcolm Thomas, and Billy White. When they are getting to the offensive glass, they are a tough team to beat. SDSU has been hot of late, winning six of their last seven.


Sleeper: Utah

The Utes are a tough team to figure out. They have some nice wins (Illinois, UNLV twice), but also some questionable losses (Idaho, Seattle, Wyoming, Pepperdine). The Utes have some solid guards in Carlon Brown, Luka Drca, and Marshall Henderson, but perhaps most important is their first round opponent - UNLV, who they have swept this year.


Names you need to know

• Roman Martinez, New Mexico: Darington Hobson is the star, but Martinez is probably the Lobos most clutch player. Anyone that has seen New Mexico play this season has likely seen Martinez knock down more than one big three. He's not the flashiest player, but his lefty stroke keeps the floor spread and affords guys like Gary and Hobson room to operate in the lane.


• Michael Loyd, BYU: Loyd plays behind Jimmer Fredette, which means that their aren't many minutes available for the sophomore. But his performance when minutes become available prove the kid of talent this kid has. In the four games that Fredette has been slowed due to illness, Loyd has averaged 15.3 ppg. Not a bad backup.
  


• Kawhi Leonard, SDSU: The Aztecs have the best front line in the conference, and Leonard is the best of the bunch. The 6'7" freshman slipped through the major conference cracks, and he has been tearing up the MWC. Leonard has 14 double-doubles on the season, and is as good around the rim as you are going to find.
  


• Ronnie Moss, TCU: The Horned Frogs struggled this season, finishing 13-18 and just 5-13 in the conference, but Moss was the bright spot. The league's fourth leading scorer and top assist man, Moss has shown the ability to take a game over. The only problem? There is not much else on this roster to get excited about.