MWC, Saturday, February 20

Sorry for the late post.

New Mexico 74, Air Force 46.  Air Force tries to slow you down, but they won't be able to do that to New Mexico.

UNLV 77, CSU 66.  UNLV needs to right the ship ASAP if they want to make the tourney.  Saturday afternoon in the Thomas & Mack against CSU sounds like as good a place as any to get that righted.

SDSU 64, Utah 56.  Two of the best defensive teams in the conference, two of the worst offensive teams.  This won't be pretty.  It is simulcast tonight on the Mtn and CBS College Sports if you are completely bored on a Saturday night and get either of those channels.

BYU 85, Wyoming 71.  Two fast-paced, up-tempo teams.  It probably gets a little sloppy/frantic early on, but I anticipate BYU laying the wood on the Cowboys in the second half.

At this point BYU and New Mexico are locks for the tourney, just playing for seeding (and a conference championship).  I think right now, UNLV is in and SDSU isn't.  The stretch run will be crucial for both of these teams.  SDSU can play itself in.  UNLV can play itself out.  It's margin for error is much smaller after the season sweep by Utah.

Speaking of Utah, could there be a more inconsistent team in the country?  They've beaten some NCAA tournament teams (including road and neutral site wins) and lost to a few teams that may end up with single digit wins on the season.  Coaching, coaching, coaching...there is talent in the program: Boylen either needs someone else to coordinate the O, or Utah needs to get someone else to run the team.  Boylen has the 4th best team in the conference and he's in 6th.  Last year he tied for first with the second best team (and went one and done in the NCAA tourney).  Two years ago, he had the 4th best team and was 6th.  Any bets on next year?  With the incoming freshmen they have (will probably have the second best recruiting class in the conference), they should be a top 3 or 4 team next year (New Mexico 1, UNLV 2, BYU/SDSU/Utah 3/4/5).  I'd be shocked if Boylen can get them within reach of a conference championship: but make no mistake, they are good enough next year to be in contention.