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**Seth Stoker, KSL.com contributor**
*March 20, 3:20 pm*Jimmer Fredette has been the hottest name in the NCAA tournament so far. Just about every major news outlet has done a piece on him, and love the storylines from his background concerning playing pickup games at local prisons, training with his brother, etc.
In fact, at 1:30 A.M. as I was driving I tuned into a national sports radio show in which the host teased Fredette's story before the show went to a commercial break. No matter where I look, I find something about Fredette. I think the nation's surprise and fascination with Fredette may shed some light on the MWC TV deal, as very few people knew who he was before the tourney.
Drop 37 points against an SEC team on national TV, and suddenly everyone knows your name.
Here are some links Cougar fans might find interesting:
First, here's a CBS segment that shows a small part of KSU's film session in preparation for BYU.
[http://www.cbs.com/sports/video/? pid=OtiPowaL13GPfv05hzlGBXgTOH25mP0o&vs=NCAA Men\\'s Basketball&play=true](
**Seth Stoker, KSL.com contributor**
*March 19, 10:51 am*The BYU men's basketball team played in one of the many exciting games on the first day of what looks to be an unbelievable NCAA tournament. Jimmer
Fredette and Michael Loyd's breakout performances on the national stage sparked the interest of many national media outlets. Here's an ESPN article on Jimmer Fredette's 37-point performance:
[http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/tournament/2010/columns/story?columnist=forde\_pat&id=5007344](http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/tournament/2010/columns/story?
columnist=forde_pat&id=5007344)
Fredette also appeared on the Dan Patrick Show this morning. You can check that out here:
[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/danpatrick/listenlive.player.html?file=http://ht.cdn.turner.com/si/danpatrick/audio/2010/03/19/DP- Jimmer\_Fredette-03-19-10\_Interview.mp3](http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/danpatrick/listenlive.player.html?file=http://ht.cdn.turner.com/si/danpatrick/audio/2010/03/19/DP-Jimmer_Fredette-
03-19-10_Interview.mp3)
Mike Loyd got some love of his own from CBS Sports analyst Gregg Doyel.
[http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/story/13079983/loyd-emerges-from-shadows-to-provide-byu-lifeline? tag=headlines;collegebasketball](http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/story/13079983/loyd-emerges-from-shadows-to-provide-byu-lifeline?
tag=headlines;collegebasketball)
The MWC had an interesting day yesterday, as New Mexico and BYU moved on, while SDSU and UNLV both had chances to win but were unable to get wins against Tennessee and Northern Iowa, respectively. It makes me wonder how UNLV would have played if the Northern Iowa players were sporting BYU jerseys.
The Cougars now turn their attention to Kansas State, who blew out North Texas 82-62. The Wildcats have been highly ranked for much of the season, and even looked to have a chance for a No. 1 seed for a while. On paper, there seem to be quite a few statistical categories in this matchup that favor BYU.
Kansas State ranks No. 232 in turnovers per game at 14.5. Forcing turnovers and capitalizing on them with transition baskets is a strength for BYU, and if the Cougars can convert Kansas State turnovers into points, they should be able to stay in their transition game.
The Wildcats are also ranked No. 148 in the country in 3-point field goal percentage defense. The Cougars, on the other hand, are third in 3-point field goal shooting percentage. If the Wildcats can't guard the Cougars' 3-point shots, and BYU gets hot, the Wildcats could be in for a long Saturday night.
Here's the kicker. Only six teams nationwide foul more than the Wildcats. That could especially good news for Fredette, who has a knack for creating contact. What's more, the Cougars lead the nation in free throw percentage, meaning if Kansas State puts the Cougars on the line, it plays right into the Cougars' hands.
The Wildcats hold some serious advantages as well. Offensive rebounding killed the Cougars yesterday, as Florida grabbed 20 for the game. The Kansas State players are just as athletic and have as much size as Florida, which could be a problem. The Wildcats grabbed 17 offensive rebounds against North Texas yesterday. The Cougars will have to do a better job on the boards if they want to win the game.
KSU is ranked No. 29 in rebounding margin. The Wildcats can also score the ball, 9ranking No. 13 in the country in scoring, at 79.6 ppg.- - - - - -
March 18, 1:03 pmWell, there you have it, folks. After 17 years, BYU has finally won an NCAA tournament game. It wasn't easy, but the Cougars were able to get it done with some exceptional play from guards Jimmer Fredette and Mike Loyd, who finished with 37 and 26 points, respectively. The Cougars may have never made it to either overtime if it wasn't for Loyd's clutch free throw shooting. What a game.- - - - - -
March 18, 12:02 pmBYU has taken an eight point lead against the Gators with 7:28 remaining ing in the game. Jimmer Fredette has taken over, scoring 20 points with an array of drives to the basket. All the Cougars have to do now is keep Florida from going on a run, and they should be able to win the game.- - - - - -
March 18, 11:12 amIt's halftime in Oklahoma City as BYU leads Florida 35-33 at the half. Noah Hartsock fouled Florida guard Kenny Boynton on a 3-point shot late in the half, giving the freshman three free throws to pull the Gators to within two. Mike Loyd Jr. has been a revelation for the Cougars, scoring 10 consecutive points to lead the Cougars at the half. The Cougars have capitalized on takeaways, scoring nine points off turnovers in the game. - - - - - -
March 18, 10:55 amMike Loyd Jr. has come into the game and sparked the Cougars to gain the lead. Loyd singlehandledly went on a 10-0 run to lead BYU to a 31-28 lead. This kid has peaked at the perfect time for the Cougars.- - - - - -
March 18, 10:48 amWith just less than eight minutes to go in the first half, the Cougars trail Florida 24-19. Jimmer Fredette leads the Cougars with eight points on 4-of-8 shooting. The Gators have hit three 3-point shots, helping them jump out to an early lead.- - - - - -
March 18, 10:06 amWe're only 20 minutes from tipoff on the first day (that matters) of the NCAA tournament. BYU will face Florida in the first game of the day at 10:20 MST. Here's a good read on BYU guard Jimmer Fredette while you're preparing for the game: [http://www.cbssports.com/colleg ebasketball/story/13075539/byus-fredette-might-make- tourney-his-comingout-party? tag=pageRow;pageContaine](http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/story/130 75539/byus-fredette-might-make-tourney-his-comingout- party? tag=pageRow;pageContainer) Apparently, CBS Sports Columnist Gregg Doyel thinks Jimmer Fredette is this year's Stephen Curry. The matchup with Florida should be a good one for the Cougars, at least on paper. BYU may get away with playing a lot of zone defense because of the Gators' struggles from the 3-point line. It will be interesting to see how Florida's frontcourt size will affect BYU's offensive and defensive game plans. I fully expect the BYU guards to take advantage of Florida's lack of size on the guard line. Fredette should have a big day. The question is whether or not he will share the ball in the process. I think if he does the Cougars will win. Keep in mind, in his breakout game against Arizona, Fredette had nine assists, which is one of the things that made him so effective. His sharing of the ball kept the Arizona defenders honest, forcing them to guard the entire BYU team. - - - - - -
March 13, 11:20 pmJunior forward Tai Wesley broke his nose only one minute into the game. His status for any game next week is unknown.- - - - - -
March 13, 11:15 pmThe Utah State Aggies will have to leave their NCAA tournament hopes to chance, as they fell to the New Mexico State Aggies, 69-63 here in Reno.- - - - - -
March 13, 10:21 pmKSL Sports â–¶ Bad weekend for all local teams; Utah State falls to New Mexico State 69-63 #fb- - - - - -
March 13, 9:49 pmKSL Sports â–¶ Tournament bid on the line- Utah State trails 60-55 with under four to go #fb- - - - - -
March 13, 9:48 pmSecond upset of the WAC Tournament may be on hand. Utah State trails New Mexico State, 60-55 with 3:47 left the game.- - - - - -
March 13, 9:25 pmKSL Sports â–¶ WAC Tourney: Utah State is up 40-38 with just under 14 minutes to go. #fb- - - - - -
March 13, 9:19 pmUtah State leads the New Mexico State Aggies 37-36 with 15:10 left in the first half in the WAC Championship game in Reno.- - - - - -
March 13, 8:58 pmKSL Sports â–¶ WAC Tourney: Utah state trails NMSU 28- 26 at the half.- - - - - -
March 13, 8:56 pmAs it turns out, things couldn't have worked out any better for the MWC. The two teams who were guaranteed an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament fell to the two teams that weren't necessarily a lock. If UNLV hadn't already done enough to earn a spot in the tournament, its win against BYU most likely locked up a spot for them. San Diego State, however, was relying on a deep tournament run to find their way in. The team who had the most to lose ended up winning, all-but guaranteeing that four MWC teams will see their name in the NCAA bracket on selection sunday. I had a chance to ask SDSU Head Coach Steve Fisher about the quality of the MWC after the game. "This is high level basketball. I said that yesterday. Anybody that watched the New Mexico/San Diego State game, if there were no labels on the jersey, they would say this is as good as it gets anywhere. And it was," Fisher said. He was also pretty confident that four MWC teams would be invited to the NCAA tournament. "This is a really good league that has nine teams in it, and four of us are going to go to the NCAA tournament. That's representing your league well," he said. Fisher also spoke of the importance of all four teams showing well in the NCAA tournament. "Now what we need to do is step up and win a few games. That's the challenge we will all face," said Fisher, also mentioning that New Mexico should receive the highest seed of any MWC teams. "But we need to roll up our sleeves and find a way to win some games now." I don't think enough can be said about the performance of Kawhi Leonard. with about four minutes to go in the game, Leonard had already grabbed 18 rebounds. His game total of 21 broke the previous MWC tournament record of 19, and eclipsed the previous MWC finals record of 16. The former California Mr. Basketball's performance was easily the most dominating effort I have ever seen from a freshman, and one of the best I have ever seen. Considering what the Aztecs had on the line, the imposing home crowd and the pressure UNLV's defense applies, Leonard was nothing short of spectacular. Leonard isn't, by any means, the biggest guy on the floor. Rebounding is an effort stat, and that's what sets the freshman apart. Leonard also connected on eight of his nine free throw attempts, most of which sealed the game for the Aztecs. All of this went into my decision to put him on my ballot for tournament MVP. Here's the rest of my all-tourney ballot: Jimmer Fredette BYU 37.5 ppg, 5 apg Tre'Von Willis UNLV 14 ppg Billy White SDSU 16.7 ppg, 1.5 spg Darington Hobson UNM 21.5 ppg, 11 rpg FYI- Kawhi Leonard's stat line: 14.3 ppg, 13 rpg UNLV forward Chace Stanback was the only player not on my ballot to make the all-conference team, averaging 12.3 points and 6.3 rebounds. San Diego State won the championship in both the men's and women's tournaments, the second consecutive year both teams from the same institution have won in the same year (third overall). New Mexico (2005) and Utah (2009) are the only other programs to accomplish that feat. I mentioned that both teams struggled offensively, and the game proved to be the lowest scoring output in a MWC championship game ever. Neither team scored until 15:55 remaining in the first half, with the teams combining to go 0 for 12 from the field. The Aztecs held UNLV to 32 percent shooting, allowing the Rebels to connect on only six of their MWC record 22 3-point attempts. - - - - - -
March 13, 8:49 pmKSL Sports â–¶ WAC Tourney: New Mexico jumps out in front, lead 25-21 with 3:54 left in half. #fb- - - - - -
March 13, 7:04 pmUtah State minutes away from tipoff vs New Mexico State for WAC championship. Watch on ESPN2.- - - - - -
March 13, 7:03 pmAztecs win, 55-45. Final statline for Kawhi Leonard 16 points, 21 rebounds, a new MWC tournament record. - - - - - -
March 13, 6:58 pmMy MWC All-Tournament ballot Jimmer Fredette, BYU Darington Hobson, New Mexico Tre'von Willis, UNLV Billy White, SDSU Kawhi Leonard (MVP), SDSU- - - - - -
March 13, 6:56 pmSan Diego State's Kawhi Leonard just tied the MWC tournament record with 19 rebounds. Leonard, a freshman, also has 12 points. I just submitted my All-Tournament selections and I have selected him as tournament MVP.- - - - - -
March 13, 6:33 pmWith 10:24 remaining in the game, the Rebels hold a two point lead over the Aztecs. Fatigue on both sides is really starting to show, but the offense for both teams looks a lot better in the second half. Steve Fisher's Aztec team may not be an offensive force, but man, can those guys rebound the basketball. SDSU freshman Kawhi Leonard is a rebounding machine, and now has 16 to go with eight points. His performance on the boards has kept the Aztecs in the game. - - - - - -
March 13, 5:56 pmThe scoring finally picked up in the last two minutes of the half, with San Diego State leading the Rebels at the half 25-22. The difference in the game has been MWC freshman of the year Kawhi Leonard, who has single- handedly outrebounded the Rebels 13-12. Leonard also dropped in six points before the break. The Aztecs as a whole have dominated the Rebels on the glass, 24-12. SDSU has been able to overcome early shooting woes with eight offensive rebounds, leading to eight second chance points. The Rebels are staying in the game by knocking down 3- pointers. They made three in the first half compared to none for the Aztecs, but missed eight of their 11 attempts. SDSU and UNLV are shooting 35.7 percent and 32 percent, respectively.- - - - - -
March 13, 5:35 pmIt feels like we're watching a Ravens vs. Steelers battle in the Thomas & Mack, as neither team is having much offensive success. With just less than seven minutes to go in the first half, the Rebels and Aztecs are locked up at 12 points apiece. What an unbelievable change from yesterday, when each team shot the ball extremely well against BYU and New Mexico to advance to the championship game. The Aztecs are shooting only 26.3 percent from the field, while the Rebels are shooting 29.4 percent. - - - - - -
March 13, 5:18 pmHere's a little tidbit I forgot to mention last night. As I was interviewing BYU guard Jackson Emery, former BYU great Danny Ainge came back and congratulated Emery on his effort despite the loss. It is clear that the current President of Basketball Operations for the Boston Celtics is still a big supporter of the program, and knows the BYU players very well.- - - - - -
March 13, 5:12 pmThe championship game is underway, and so far it's a defensive battle. 17:00 to go in the first half and still no score. Last night's semifinal game between UNLV and BYU was the first sellout in tournament history; a stark contrast from today's crowd. The upper bowl is pretty much empty, and there are still some vacant seats in the lower bowl as well.- - - - - -
March 13, 4:57 pmThe teams split the regular-season series, with UNLV winning 76-66 at the Thomas & Mack Center on Jan. 13 and San Diego State claiming the rematch, 68-58, at Viejas Arena on Feb. 13.- - - - - -
March 13, 4:52 pmChampionship game just 10 minutes away. Here are a few thoughts to mull over as we approach tipoff. Both the Aztecs and Rebels have just 1 senior in the starting lineup. The Rebels are really young, with 2 sophomores and a freshman in their starting 5. Rebels have won 3 MWC tournament titles, while SDSU has won two.- - - - - -
March 13, 4:24 pmMWC Women's All tournament team Taryn Wicijowski, Utah Kalee Whipple, Utah Hillary Carlson, Wyoming Quenese Davis (MVP), San Diego State Jene Morris, San Diego State- - - - - -
March 13, 4:10 pmThe Utah women's team battles hard but falls short in the overtime, losing 70-60 to San Diego State. Men's game set to tipoff in about an hour.- - - - - -
March 13, 3:56 pmThe Utah women's team is going into overtime tied at 58 with San Diego State for the MWC tourney championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. - - - - - -
March 13, 1:09 pmThe BYU men's basketball team dropped a tough one in Las Vegas last night against a very good UNLV game. The remarkable thing is how much better UNLV becomes when facing BYU at the Thomas & Mack. I failed to mention last night that Jimmer Fredette, in only two games, broke Danny Granger's previous record of 73 total points in the tournament with 75 total points. He also set the record for free throws made and attempted, with 36 and 35, respectively. I have covered a lot of BYU basketball games and post-game press conferences this season. Even after the Cougars' emotional loss to New Mexico in the Marriott Center, I have never seen Jimmer Fredette react to a loss the way he did last night. He hung his head and stared at the table, and didn't even look up to hear the questions reporters directed at him. His answers were short, and he clearly didn't want to be there. It's hard to blame the guy, as there is no question how bad he wanted the win last night. He and Tre'Von Willis traded glares throughout the game, and despite Fredette's 30-point output, it was Willis who came away with a victory. To add insult to injury, Fredette was asked if Willis, who guarded Fredette for much of the night, was the best one-on-one defender he'd ever faced. It was obvious Fredette wasn't excited about praising his rival, but he gave a gracious response. "Tre'Von is a good defender. He's quick, athletic, gets up in you, aggressive," Fredette said. "He's definitely one of the best defenders. He does a good job." So what did Fredette think the difference in the game was that led to the Rebel victory? They just made shots at the end, made big plays. We didn't," he said. "That's what happened." Here are some other leftover notes and quotes from last night. Senior Jonathan Tavernari on freshman Brandon Davies'(three points, six rebounds) post play, and the decision for him to start in place of Chris Miles: "Coach felt that was a better matchup for us. In the end he showed that he's going to be a terrific player," Tavernari said. "He rebounded the ball really well towards the end of the game. He's just a raw talent... You know, tweak a few things here and there and he's going to have a bright, bright future at BYU." On the UNLV side, Chace Stanback (17 points, six rebounds) and Brice Massamba (13 points, six rebounds) spoke with the media after the game. Stanback on the rivalry with BYU: "BYU is a great team. We know they're going to fight hard every game. We respect them," Stanback said. "And we just got to play hard every time we face them. That's what we did tonight." Stanback on whether or not this tournament proves the strength of the conference this year: "Yeah, I definitely think it was proved tonight. Obviously, San Diego State won. They had a great game," Stanback said. "We played well. There's a lot of talent in this league. I think people don't really realize that. But we showed it." UNLV Head Coach Lon Kruger on UNLV's home-court advantage in the tournament: "There's an advantage to some degree. Who knows how much that is. We have a good basketball team," Kruger said. "If we weren't a decent team, we wouldn't be there tomorrow. It's not because we're at home only." On facing SDSU in the title game Saturday: "They're playing awfully well. They're rangey, they're athletic, Coach Fisher has them playing at a very high level," Kruger said. "Our guys know how tough they are. The're maybe playing as well as anyone in the conference right now." The Rebels will face the Aztecs at 4 p.m. PST. The Rebels appearance in the MWC tournament title game has become a pretty safe bet, as UNLV has appeared in seven of the 11 championship games since the inception of the MWC. BYU set an MWC tournament record with their free throw shooting, finishing at 88.9 percent for the tourney. That's all for now. More to come from the Thomas & Mack when we get closer to gametime.- - - - - -
March 13, 12:01 pm
March 13, 11:56 amAt least one Utah team will be playing in a championship today. The Utah State Aggies will be playing the New Mexico State Aggies, who edged Nevada 79-69 last night. Tipoff will be at 8 PST (7 MST) from Reno on ESPN2. - - - - - -
March 12, 11:49 pmWe might have the first upset of the WAC Tournament. The New Mexico State Aggies lead the Nevada, 66-65 with 7:50 left in the game.- - - - - -
March 12, 11:46 pmUNLV knocks off BYU 70-66 in the second upset of the day at the MWC Tournament. SDSU upset top-seeded New Mexico earlier this evening. The MWC Championship game puts UNLV up against SDSU in a battle battle for an automatic bid to the Big Dance. - - - - - -
March 12, 11:27 pmThe New Mexico State Aggies are leading the Nevada Wolf Pack in Reno, 59-54 with 13:34 left in the game.- - - - - -
March 12, 11:26 pmUNLV has helped BYU get back into the game by not attacking the hoop the way did earlier in the game. When the Rebels quit attacking the Cougars did and now the game is tied. The crowd is going crazy! The out numbered BYU are getting loud and the Rebel faithful are trying to drowned them out. My ears are buzzing!- - - - - -
March 12, 11:21 pmI guess I spoke too soon. Fredette hit a huge NBA-range 3- pointer, and got fouled behind the 3-point line on the next possession. The Cougars are down 56-59 with 3:14 remaining and Fredette set to shoot three free throws. The Cougars seem to have gained the momentum, thanks in part to Brandon Davies, who has gotten every defensive rebound for the Cougars after The Rebels last three possessions. 9-2 run for the Cougars.- - - - - -
March 12, 11:11 pmThe UNLV defense looks to be too much for the Cougars right now. Jackson Emery being in foul trouble (four) doesn't help the Cougars on the defensive side of the ball either. Cougars down 10 with 7:57 remaining. - - - - - -
March 12, 10:56 pmUNLV guard Tre'Von Willis has all but shut down Jimmer Fredette. The BYU guard is clearly frustrated, and he is forcing up a lot of tough shots. - - - - - -
March 12, 10:54 pmBrice Massamba and Chris Miles had a slight confrontation after a Miles foul. Miles fouled Massamba fairly hard after receiving what he claimed was an elbow from the Rebel center. - - - - - -
March 12, 10:44 pmIt was just announced that this is the first sale out that a MWC Tourney game has had while playing here at the Thomas & Mack Center. It is packed!- - - - - -
March 12, 10:41 pmI have a decent view of Tyler Haws on BYU's bench, and he doesn't look good. His left eye is completely swollen shut, and he's clearly uncomfortable. If BYU was to make it to the next round, it's hard to imagine Haws getting off the bench.- - - - - -
March 12, 10:35 pmIt's halftime at the Thomas & Mack, and UNLV leads BYU 41- 34. BYU guard Jimmer Fredette leads the Cougars with 12 points, but he's having a much more difficult time getting to the free throw line against the Rebels. Emery recorded six points, shooting 2 for 5 from the field. Chace Stanback dropped in 10 points to lead the Rebels, followed by Tre'Von Willis with eight points. The Rebels are shooting 61.5 percent from the field, and 70 percent from 3-point range. The Cougars are hanging in there, but have to find a way to slow down the Rebels' hot shooting if they want to stay in the game. BYU is within seven points, which is respectable after some of the first half performances it has put together against the Rebels in this building. - - - - - -
March 12, 10:10 pmUNLV still red-hot, shooting 76.5 percent from the field. When the Rebels are hitting their threes like this (6 for 7) they're hard to beat.- - - - - -
March 12, 10:07 pmThe game started off as a three-point shoot-out, but the Rebels have since pounded the ball inside out scoring the Cougars 12-6 in the paint. - - - - - -
March 12, 10:05 pmThe Cougars have cooled off quickly. After starting out shooting 4-of-6 from the field, turnovers and missed shots have forced BYU to once again play from behind against UNLV in Vegas. UNLV up 32-24 with 7:10 remaining in the half.- - - - - -
March 12, 9:56 pmUNLV is on the scoreboard as the visiting team because of seeding, but they are playing on their homecourt and it is evident. The Rebel faithful outnumber the BYU fans greatly. The crowd will certainly be a big factor in tonights game. It is loud!- - - - - -
March 12, 9:47 pmIt's already shaping up to be a good one, as both teams have dropped in an array of 3-point baskets. Jackson Emery leads the way for the Cougars, shooting 2-of-2 for six points, while Chace Stanback hit two consecutive threes for UNLV. BYU leads 11-9.- - - - - -
March 12, 9:38 pmIt looks like Mike Loyd will start in place of Haws tonight. It looks like BYU Head Coach Dave Rose is opting to go with speed to match up with the Rebels. Brandon Davies has also entered the starting lineup for the first time this season. His minutes have been consistently increasing while the previous starter, Chris Miles, has seen his minutes steadily decrease. That makes the Cougars' lineup a little small, but size is rarely the issue against UNLV. Having another point guard and a quicker post player who poses a scoring threat should help the Cougars handle UNLV's notorious pressure against BYU guards.- - - - - -
March 12, 9:35 pmSorry guys, I posted this on twitter but not here: KSL Sports â–¶ WAC Tourney: USU wins by 30 over LA Tech, 85-55. Quayle had 16 for the Aggies- - - - - -
March 12, 9:26 pmNo surprise, but the Cougars were welcomed onto the court by loud booing by UNLV fans, drowning out cheers by scattered Cougar fans. Three of the four semifinal teams wear red, with BYU as the odd team out. This makes the arena look even more overwhelmingly in favor of the home team. If this game ends up being anything like the early game, these fans are in for a treat. San Diego State probably just played their way into the NCAA tournament no matter what happens tomorrow. They were projected before the game as one of the last teams to get in, but a victory over the No. 8 RPI team should get the selection committee's attention.- - - - - -
March 12, 9:21 pmI just got another update, as Haws reportedly has a fractured orbital bone. The fracture isn't what will keep him from playing tonight, but the swelling will. If the swelling is down tomorrow, Haws will be expected to play.- - - - - -
March 12, 9:20 pmThe Aggies easily took care of the Bulldogs, 85-55. The Aggies shot an efficient 58.8 percent from the field and 52.6 from 3- point land on 10-of- 19 shooting. More to come soon.- - - - - -
March 12, 9:18 pmI just spoke with Kyle Chilton, the sports information director for BYU basketball. It looks like Tyler Haws' eye will be too swollen for him to play in tonight's game against the Rebels, and he is listed as questionable for tomorrow's championship game if the Cougars advance. - - - - - -
March 12, 9:10 pmSan Diego State stuns New Mexico in a 72-69 thriller! The winner of the BYU/UNLV match-up will face SDSU in the championship tomorrow at 4pm PT. - - - - - -
March 12, 9:00 pmNew Mexico will look for the same kind of luck Ohio State had against Michigan earlier today. - - - - - -
March 12, 8:57 pmJunior guard D.J. Gray just knocked down a HUGE 3-pt bucket for the Aztecs to put them up four with 57 seconds remaining on the clock. BIG BUCKET! We could have our first upset of the tourney.- - - - - -
March 12, 8:57 pmJunior guard D.J. Gray just knocked down a HUGE 3-pt bucket for the Aztecs to put them up four with 57 seconds remaining on the clock. BIG BUCKET! We could have our first upset of the tourney.- - - - - -
March 12, 8:55 pmIt's gonna be a down to the final second type game. Billy White just completed a three point play to put the Aztecs up three, but then fouled Roman Martinez on a three and Martinez knocked down two of his three free throws. The Aztecs lead with 1:30 left in the game. - - - - - -
March 12, 8:51 pmLobos take the lead with 2:28 remaining. 64-62. By far the best game in the MWC this season. Watch now on CBS College Sports. It is setting up for a fantastic finish.- - - - - -
March 12, 8:45 pmDo we have our first upset of the tournament in the works? SDSU is up four with just over five minutes to play. Their defense continues to give UNM fits and they are playing with a chip on their shoulder. We'll just have to see, the Lobos do have Player of the Year Darington Hobson and he just scored to close the Aztec lead to two.- - - - - -
March 12, 8:40 pmRobert has mentioned that the atmosphere is intense here in the Thomas & Mack and I agree it is! The lower bowl has been packed all night, but the upper bowl has slowly been filling up and looks to be just about full. The end of this game is sure to be crazy, but the next match-up between BYU and the hometown UNLV Rebels is sure to be insane!- - - - - -
March 12, 8:35 pmThe Lobos and Aztecs have just under 10 minutes to battle out who gets to to play in tomorrow afternoons championship game. While the Aztecs had control of the lead for most of the first half the second half has been a back and forth battle. The Aztecs just knocked down two straight long distance bombs to take a five point lead. Chase Tapley knock one down to put his point total to 9 and Freshman Kawhi Leonard hit the other.- - - - - -
March 12, 8:28 pmIncredible atmosphere and great basketball so far here in Vegas. Lobos hold a 1 point lead, 55-54. This is turning out to be one of the best games that I've been able to see in person.- - - - - -
March 12, 8:19 pm2nd half out to an exciting start, as Lobos and Aztecs trade baskets. Lobos currently lead by 1, 48-47 with 14:41 left in the game. After only 1 lead change in the first half, we've already had four just over 5 minutes in.- - - - - -
March 12, 8:03 pmA very surprising first half for the Utah State Aggies. The Aggies are shooting lights out, hitting 65 percent of their shots from the floor and 50 percent from long distance. Jared Quayle and Brady Jardine have ten points apiece. The Aggies held the Bulldogs to just 29.6 percent shooting from the floor and a measly 14.3 percent from the 3-point arc. The Bulldogs are having a hard time sharing the ball, as they have only two assists. The Aggies already have 13 assists.- - - - - -
March 12, 7:54 pmIt happened, Dairese Gary drove the ball to the bucket and the Lobos now lead for the first time in the game 39-38 at the break. - - - - - -
March 12, 7:51 pmNew Mexico has not had a lead yet in this game. With 26 seconds on the clock they have the ball with the chance to go into the half with a lead. - - - - - -
March 12, 7:51 pmMembers of the UNLV team have begun to file into the Thomas & Mack to watch the early game. Still no sign of the BYU players, although the assistant coaches for BYU remain in the seats to my left. They have to all be hoping that the scouting report they create from watching this game will be useful tomorrow.- - - - - -
March 12, 7:47 pmWhile it was success from long distance that gave the Aztecs their early 12 point lead SDSU has pounded the ball into Billy White who has a game high 17 points. His post moves and power have been too much for the Lobos down low. - - - - - -
March 12, 7:34 pmNew Mexico battled back to tie the game up at 26 all before Chase Tapley knocked down a 3 ball to give the Aztecs a 3 point lead. Wit 7:49 to go in the half, SDSU leads NM 29-26. The energy inside the Thomas and Mack Center is incredible. This is what March Madness is all about.- - - - - -
March 12, 7:31 pmNew Mexico had chipped the SDSU lead down to two points and the crowd is going wild for the Lobos. UNM has decided to quit just taking long distance shots and they are now pounding the ball inside and finding success. - - - - - -
March 12, 7:28 pmNew Mexico Senior Roman Martinez has just knocked down to straight three-point baskets to cut the SDSU lead down to five. The Lobos are still only shooting 29 percent from long distance while the Aztecs have knocked down 4-5 of thier three point attempts.- - - - - -
March 12, 7:19 pmSan Diego has come out on fire shooting the ball. The Aztecs are 83 percent from the floor while New Mexico has only connected on 29 percent of thier shots early in the first half. The Lobos are also being outrebounded 5-1 thus far.- - - - - -
March 12, 7:14 pmThe New Mexico fans are in shock after Sand Diego State has started the game on a 11-2 run. Freshman Kawhi Leonard has barried two three point baskets and Aztec big-man Billy White drained a long ball as well. Kelvin Davis just joined the 3-ball club and SDSU holds a 14-4 lead at the 15:40 mark. - - - - - -
March 12, 7:11 pmBulldogs Senior Center Magnum Rolle just hit the deck and was slow to get up. The team trainer is helping him back to the locker room and he is favoring his right leg.- - - - - -
March 12, 7:09 pm8 quick points by SDSU and the Lobos call a timeout. Freshman standout Kawhi Leonard hit 2 big threes and Malcolm Thomas slammed one home that sent the SDSU faithful into a cheer.- - - - - -
March 12, 7:05 pmMWC Basketball - New Mexico vs San Diego State seconds underway. New Mexico fans have traveled extremely well as the Thomas and Mack Center is packed with Lobo red. The excitement and anticipation is high for both semifinal games today. San Diego State is most likely in a must win situation to stay alive for an at large NCAA tourney bid. - - - - - -
March 12, 7:03 pmOnly three minutes until tipoff, and a lot has changed. This Lobo crowd is just as intimidating as it was yesterday, and the lower bowl is starting to fill up. The boos from Lobo fans have drowned out Aztec fans as the SDSU team takes the floor. (Not to mention a flurry of Lobo fans chanting "NIT, NIT" as the Aztecs emerged from the tunnel. BYU assistant coaches are seated about 10 feet to my left, and all of them look like they are in the zone. They certainly have a lot to think about, as defeating the Rebels here later tonight will be no easy task. Should be a good one.- - - - - -
March 12, 7:03 pmOnly three minutes until tipoff, and a lot has changed. This Lobo crowd is just as intimidating as it was yesterday, and the lower bowl is starting to fill up. The boos from Lobo fans have drowned out Aztec fans as the SDSU team takes the floor. (Not to mention a flurry of Lobo fans chanting "NIT, NIT" as the Aztecs emerged from the tunnel. BYU assistant coaches are seated about 10 feet to my left, and all of them look like they are in the zone. They certainly have a lot to think about, as defeating the Rebels here later tonight will be no easy task. Should be a good one.- - - - - -
March 12, 6:54 pmThe Utah State Aggies and Louisiana Tech Bulldogs are about 10 minutes away from tip-off. - - - - - -
March 12, 6:28 pmI'm back at the Thomas & Mack Center preparing for what is sure to be another exciting night of MWC basketball. San Diego State and New Mexico are warming up in preparation for their 6 p.m. PST tip. In the meantime, here are some scores around the country. No. 21 UTEP is cruising through the Conference USA tournament, and BYU's win against the Miners without Jimmer Fredette is looking better and better every day. The Miners defeated Central Florida 76-64 Thursday evening, and produced another convincing win today, dropping Tulsa 75- 61. Neither of the Cougars' PAC-10 opponents showed well in their conference tournaments, as Arizona fell yesterday to UCLA 75-69, and Arizona State dropped its game against Stanford 70-61. Any other year two dominating wins over PAC-10 teams would be quite the post-season resume builder, but those wins have become surprisingly insignificant. It's easy to tell the MWC is having a strong year, considering that aside from UTEP, the Cougars' best wins will probably end up being against MWC teams in San Diego State and UNLV. If the Cougars can finally get past UNLV in Vegas, that win coupled with a win over New Mexico in the championship would be a huge bump in the Cougars' resume. New Mexico guard Dairese Gary was a little shaken up after yesterday's game against Air Force, but he seemed to be moving around just fine during warmups today. With 36 minutes left until tipoff the arena looks pretty empty. Considering the Lobo fan base's showing yesterday, I imagine this game will look a lot like a Lobo home game as well. I'm still not seeing many Cougar fans, and the home crowd should be quite overwhelming by the time BYU faces UNLV tonight with an 8:30 PST tip.- - - - - -
March 12, 5:29 pmCongrats to the Utah women's team for defeating TCU in the semifinals today. TCU was the regular season MWC champ. The Utes will face SDSU tomorrow for the championship. - - - - - -
March 12, 4:19 pmIn case you haven't checked out Cougar Tracks, here's a link to the update on Tyler Haws: [http://www.ksl.com/index.php? nid=498&sid=9990731](http://www.ksl.com/index.php? nid=498&sid=9990731) Haws was poked in the eye early in the second half and did not return. He experienced blurred vision and a bloody nose. - - - - - -
March 12, 3:29 pmFrom Greg Wrubell: Tyler Haws (eye) was visiting a local doctor this afternoon and did not participate in the team's shoot- around at Cox Pavilion. Word is the eye was still very swollen today. Haws' status for tonight would have to be considered questionable; if he can't play, it's likely Mike Loyd would take Haws' place in the starting lineup. - - - - - -
March 12, 12:41 amThe stage is set for the semifinal round of the MWC tournament. No. 4 seed San Diego State will face No. 1 New Mexico in the 6 p.m. game, followed by No. 2 BYU vs. No. 3 UNLV. This marks only the second time in MWC history that each of the top four seeds have reached the semifinal round. The Cougars face UNLV, the team that has the highest winning percentage in the tournament, at 75 percent. UNLV's defeat of Utah marked the first time since 2004 that the No. 3 seed has defeated the No. 6 seed. Here's a couple of leftover quotes from the UNLV post-game press conference about the upcoming matchup against BYU. UNLV Head Coach Lon Kruger on facing BYU on Friday. "BYU is playing great. Dave always does a terrific job. Players play with freedom, they play with confidence. They move the ball. They play like a lot of teams I think in the country would like to play." "They're fun to watch. Not fun to play against necessarily. Dave's got them playing really good basketball." On defending Jimmer Fredette: He's great. He's attacking all the time. He's got a great feel for when he's got an opening... He's just a terrific player." "You know he's going to score. You respect that. But try to make him as inefficient as possible. But a lot easier said than done." That's it for me tonight. Check back tomorrow for all things MWC.- - - - - -
March 11, 11:41 pmFinal from the Thomas and Mack - UNLV 73, Utah 61. This will be the end of the season for the Utes, as they will finish with a losing record for the first time since the 2006-07 season. - - - - - -
March 11, 11:24 pmI'm waiting to file my post-game story until the quarterfinal matchup between Utah and UNLV is over. That way I can include a preview of the Cougars' next game knowing who the opponent is. In the meantime, here's some quotes that won't make it into the story. Fredette on the difference between the first and second halves in regards to his play: "Just being aggressive. I got to the foul line a lot, which was good. Trying to be aggressive, get to the foul line as much as I could. I knew I could make it from there." On whether or not his performance felt similar to his 49- point effort ag Arizona: "It felt a little different because I didn't shoot well from the 3-point line. In Arizona I was shooting the ball a lot better." Jackson Emery on the rest of his team's effort: "I thought we played really well on offense. We shared the ball really well. That's what got Jimmer open, is because we're so good at spreading the ball around that teams just can't double or trap one guy. And so when you have to spread 'em out, Jimmjer can do amazing things." It looks like the Rebels are going to come out on top in the last game of the night, as they now hold a 66-45 lead over the Utes with 7:05 remaining. The Rebels should have some interesting things to say about playing the Cougars tomorrow, as they always seem to get up for that matchup more than any other game.- - - - - -
March 11, 11:18 pmUNLV up 17 with 9:06 remaining, 60-43. The Utes are shooting a dismal 28% from the field. You're not going to win many games with that kind of poor shooting.- - - - - -
March 11, 11:01 pmJason Washburn picks up his fourth foul at the 16:23 mark of the second half. Poor rotations on defense for the Utes have caused some of their bigs to get into foul trouble. The refs are calling this physical match-up tight. At the 15:51 mark of the second half the refs had called a total of 15 fouls on the Utes and 13 on the Rebels. Luka Drca is the other Ute that finds himself in foul trouble with four, but Coach Boylen will keep him in the game to help direct the team in their attempt to claw back into the game. - - - - - -
March 11, 10:45 pmThe BYU men's basketball team clearly isn't a fan favorite here at the Thomas & Mack. During the final quarterfinal matchup, the MC announced that BYU guard Jimmer Fredette had set the record for scoring in a single game with 45 points against TCU. The announcement was followed by a chorus of boos from the crimson- clad fans of both UNLV and Utah. Shortly after, the Cougar players filed down the stairs to leave the arena, and the crowd once again erupted to show their disdain for the No. 2 seeded Cougars. If UNLV beats Utah, tomorrow's game will probably be a pretty hostile environment in favor of the home team. There are Cougar fans scattered throughout the arena, but the turnout was nothing compared to the amount of Lobo fans who showed up to New Mexico's quarterfinal matchup earlier today. It will be interesting to see if tomorrow's game draws a bigger BYU crowd.- - - - - -
March 11, 10:33 pmThe Runnin' Utes were able to grind out a 9-4 run in the last three and a half minutes of the first half. The run was two-fold for Utah. One, they were able to take the crowd out of the game to a degree. Two, they were able to gain some confidence going into half-time. If the Utes are able to shock the Rebels tonight they would have a shot at revenge against arch-rival BYU in the semi-finals tomorrow night. - - - - - -
March 11, 10:16 pmCarlon Brown hits a three point basket to break a six and half minute scoreless streak for Utes. During the drought UNLV pushed their lead to as much as 10 points. The Rebels now lead 25-12 with 4:27 remaining in the first half. - - - - - -
March 11, 10:09 pmUNLV has put a full court press on the Utes and it is giving them problems. The Ute guards are flustered and it is causing Utah's offense to become stagnant. The Utes are shooting 18 percent from the floor. Each time they miss a shot the Rebel faithful get louder and louder. The Runnin' Utes find themselves in a hole that will be extremely difficult to dig themselves out of. - - - - - -
March 11, 9:57 pmRunnin' Utes hanging with the Rebels. Tied at 8 apeice with 11:39 in the first half. - - - - - -
March 11, 9:52 pmFoster returns to the game after leaving earlier with another ankle injury. Also Luka Drca is sent to the bench with two early fouls. - - - - - -
March 11, 9:43 pmFoster comes up lame within the first two and a half minutes of the game. Foster has battled his way back into playing shape after spraining his ankle last week. Foster has been taken to the locker room to be evaluated. - - - - - -
March 11, 9:33 pmFredette finished with 45 points, a new MWC single game tournament record. Utah and UNLV just seconds away from tipoff.- - - - - -
March 11, 9:04 pmAbove I mentioned that TCU's Ronnie Moss and BYU's Jimmer Fredette were in a battle of the guards. Both players had 15 point at the end of the first half, but Fredette has outscored Moss 28 to 7 in the second half. - - - - - -
March 11, 8:58 pmFredette has broken the MWC tournament record with 41 points. Previous high was 35 (Lou Kelley, UNLV 2002) Still 3:07 left to play. Perhaps he's upset about not being MWC MVP?- - - - - -
March 11, 8:54 pmJimmer Fredette just drove the ball and got the hoop and harm. While Fredette went to the line the BYU faithful started to chant, "MVP,MVP,MVP". Many feel that Fredette should have one the MWC Player of the Year honers rather than New Mexico's Darrington Hobson. Fredette is making his case tonight, with four minutes remaining Fredette has 41 of the Cougars 87 points. He's putting on a show!- - - - - -
March 11, 8:46 pmThe Runnin' Utes just made their way to the locker room to prepare for the upcoming contest against the hometown UNLV Rebels. The Thomas & Mack is starting to fill up more and more as the BYU/TCU game moves along. Looking around I see many fans sporting Rebels gear, but there are still a few Utah faithful here to support the Utes.
Utah will certainly have to play through the noise and energy of the Rebel fans, but remember they did it earlier this season Jan. 16, 73-69 win here at the Thomas & Mack center.
March 11, 8:46 pmThe Runnin' Utes just made their way to the locker room to prepare for the upcoming contest against the hometown UNLV Rebels. The Thomas & Mack is starting to fill up more and more as the BYU/TCU game moves along. Looking around I see many fans sporting Rebels gear, but there are still a few Utah faithful here to support the Utes.
Utah will certainly have to play through the noise and energy of the Rebel fans, but remember they did it earlier this season Jan. 16, 73-69 win here at the Thomas & Mack center.
March 11, 8:45 pmThe Runnin' Utes just made their way to the locker room to prepare for the upcoming contest against the hometown UNLV Rebels. The Thomas & Mack is starting to fill up more and more as the BYU/TCU game moves along. Looking around I see many fans sporting Rebels gear, but there are still a few Utah faithful here to support the Utes.
Utah will certainly have to play through the noise and energy of the Rebel fans, but remember they did it earlier this season Jan. 16, 73-69 win here at the Thomas & Mack center.
March 11, 8:34 pmCougars starting to separate themselves from TCU, with Michael Loyd Jr. coming up with a steal and a slam dunk to give BYU a 6 point lead with 10:55 remaining.- - - - - -
March 11, 8:24 pmUtah's David Foster and Kim Tillie should both be in action tonight against UNLV. Both Ute big-men were out in last weekends season finale against Colorado State because both had ankle injuries. Foster leads his team and the conference in blocked shots with an average of four per game. Tillie is the leading rebounder for the Utes with 5.6 boards per contest. Their presence in the paint will be huge for the Utes tonight. - - - - - -
March 11, 8:16 pmTyler Haws just took a shot to the face and looks to be bleeding around his eye. He is being attended to by trainers.- - - - - -
March 11, 8:07 pmThe University of Utah men's basketball team just entered the Thomas & Mack Center. Most of them are wearing head phones and have looks of confidence on their faces. They have taken some seats right next to the TCU band and are watching the halftime show. If the sixth seeded Utes can knock of UNLV tonight then they will play the winner of the BYU/TCU match-up. The second half has started and they are going to be able to get some scouting in. - - - - - -
March 11, 8:06 pmWAC Tourney: Nevada 47, Idaho 34 at the half- - - - - -
March 11, 8:01 pmIt is battle of two high profile guards in the the BYU v. TCU. TCU's Ronnie Moss has 15 points, two rebounds and two helpers in the first half. Moss is 6-8 from the field including 2-2 from long distance. Jimmer Fredette also has 15 points to go along with one steal, a block and four rebounds. Fredette is having success taking the ball to the rack and getting to the charity stripe. It should be a fun second half!- - - - - -
March 11, 7:59 pmIts the 'battle on the point guards' here in Vegas as BYU trails TCU 40- 39 at the half. Ronnie Moss has 15 points for TCU while Jimmer has 15 for the Cougars. TCU is shooting 71% from 3 point land and got the final 2 points of the half to take the lead on a layup by Ronnie Moss. This is turning out to be nothing like the Cougars last matchup with TCU in Fort Worth. - - - - - -
March 11, 7:47 pmEarlier today the lower seeded Air Force squad gave the top seeded New Mexico Lobos all they could handle before the Falcons fell short 75-69. Then San Diego State, the fourth seed, held off Colorado State, the fifth seed, 72-71. The same trend is being followed in the BYU v. TCU contest. The second seeded Cougars are in a cat fight with the seventh seeded Horned Frogs in a back and forth battle here in the first half of their game. - - - - - -
March 11, 7:38 pmTCU is shooting lights out from 3 point land, 83.3% (5-6). Ronnie Moss has 13 points already for the Frogs, while Jimmer has 11 for the Cougars. Tyler Haws just added two free throws to tie the score up at 31 with 6 minutes to go in the half. BYU has shot 10 foul shots, while TCU has only shot 2.- - - - - -
March 11, 7:16 pmFirst media timeout, BYU leads TCU 10-8. Fredette has 4 points for the Cougars while 2 players have 3 points for TCU. The Cougars are dictating the tempo of the game, forcing the Frogs into quick shots and unforced errors. - - - - - -
March 11, 6:49 pmThe BYU men's basketball team is warming up at the Thomas & Mack center for its game against TCU, and a couple of Cougars are sporting a new look. BYU guards Mike Loyd Jr. and Lamont Morgan Jr. have opted to go with a "mohawk" look for the first time this season. Here's a few tidbits from the Rams vs. Aztec game. During the Rams' second to last possession, freshman guard Dorian Green passed the ball to teammate Travis Franklin, but wasn't able to connect as the ball went between Franklin and an Aztec defender out of bounds. Green said the mishap was due to a miscommunication. "He stopped because he thought I was going to shoot it, so he started to box out," Green said. During the postgame press conference, Green was clearly dissappointed in his decision. "I should have shot it," Green said, noting he has lost some confidence in his midrange game. Green said this loss "is going to kill me for a while." CSU coach Tim Miles said after the game that he would have liked his freshman to shoot it as well. As for the Rams' postseason plans, Miles said his team just wants to play, no matter what tournament, if any, chooses to invite them. "I hope we get a chance to play in the CBI or CIT or something," Miles said. "Let's play. We'll play."- - - - - -
March 11, 6:09 pmLouisiana Tech's leading scorer Kyle Gibson has been plagued by an ankle injury and I have been told he still isn't at 100 percent. He finished with seven points in 33 minutes of action against Fresno State.- - - - - -
March 11, 5:52 pmSDSU coach Steve Fisher put Tapley back in the game with six seconds remaining, leading 72-71 and possession of the ball. Tapley received the inbounds pass and was fouled, but failed to convert on his free-throw attempt. (the front end of a one and one) Tapley then contested CSU guard Travis Busch's desperation shot at the buzzer. Another good game, and this is turning out to be a great day of MWC basketball. SDSU will face New Mexico tomorrow in the semifinals for a chance to play in the championship game Saturday night.- - - - - -
March 11, 5:41 pmColorado State isn't the only team to have lost a key player in the game against San Diego State. Chase Tapley, a sharp-shooting Aztec guard, left the game with 12:06 remaining in the game, and has not returned. Tapley was having a great game, scoring 15 points on 6-of- 7 shooting in 21 minutes of play. It looked like he may have gotten shaken up in the first half, which may be influencing his absence during the last possessions of the game. With 35 seconds remaining and Colorado State holding the lead at 70- 71, the Aztecs just lost another key player, as MWC Freshman of the Year Kawhi Leonard fouled out of the game. It's another nailbiter, we'll see if SDSU has enough playmakers left to pull off the win.- - - - - -
March 11, 5:37 pmTwitter update from Jim Boylen: "Long day with the late tip time, but we'll be ready to go. We've had a lot of close games with UNLV and I expect another one tonight." - - - - - -
March 11, 5:36 pmLouisiana Tech defeats Fresno State, 74-66. Louisiana Tech's Jamel Guyton finished with 30 points.- - - - - -
March 11, 5:25 pmLouisiana Tech leads Fresno State, 67-64 with 1:42 left in the game.- - - - - -
March 11, 5:05 pmI just received an email from Kyle Chilton, the BYU men's basketball team's Sports Information Director. Dave Rose was just announced as one of 15 finalists for the Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award, which was created last year to honor successful college basketball coaches who also show "moral integrity" off the court. Skip Prosser is the former head coach at Wake Forest University before passing away in 2007. Prosser averaged 21 wins per season. Utah State Head Coach Stew Morrill also made the list. Here's the entire list. 2010 SKIP PROSSER AWARD FINALISTS Murry Bartow East Tennessee State Bill Carmody Northwestern Jamie Dixon Pittsburgh Fran Dunphy Temple Greg Kampe Oakland Billy Kennedy Murray State Chris Mack Xavier Bob Marlin Sam Houston State Stew Morrill Utah State Eric Reveno Portland Dave Rose BYU Kevin Stallings Vanderbilt Brad Stevens Butler Mike Young Wofford Ted Woodward Maine- - - - - -
March 11, 4:44 pmSan Diego State is starting to pull away from the Rams, taking a 41-33 lead into the break. The main story line of the first half was the ejection of CSU star forward Andy Ogide for throwing an elbow into SDSU's Brian Carlwell. If not for Carlwell's teammates restraining him, we might have had an all out brawl on our hands. That happened at the 6:27 mark with SDSU holding a slim 25-22 lead. While the Rams only managed 11 points in the final 6 minutes, the Aztecs put up 16 points to open up the 8 point lead, controlling the all the momentum. To add insult to injury, CSU head coach Tim Miles was given a technical for arguing with an official about a call. - - - - - -
March 11, 4:24 pmAt halftime, Louisiana Tech leads Fresno State, 33-32. Paul George has 12 points for Fresno State and Jamel Guyton has 13 points for Louisian Tech.- - - - - -
March 11, 4:21 pmBreaking news from the CSU - SDSU matchup, CSU's Andy Ogide was ejected for throwing an elbow into the face of Brian Carlwell, throwing him to the floor. Carlwell had to be bear-hugged by his teammates from turning the incident into an all out brawl. With 5:10 left in the half, SDSU leads CSU 29-25.- - - - - -
March 11, 4:05 pmThe Utah State Aggies defeat the Boise State Broncos, 84- 60. Senior guard Jared Quayle and junior forward Tai Wesley both registered a double-double. Quayle finished with 13 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. Wesley finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Juniors Brian Green and Pooh Williams registered career-highs as well scoring 18 points apiece. The Aggies will face the winner between Louisiana Tech and Fresno State. Louisiana Tech leads late in the second half, 26-21.- - - - - -
March 11, 4:01 pmGary injury update: Steve Alford said after the game that although starting point guard Dairese Gary was shaken up after the game, the junior will definitely play in tomorrow's semifinal matchup against the winner of Colorado State and San Diego State. "He took a pretty big hit two minutes into the game," Alford said. "He didn't stop, he didn't quit... In the next 24 hours we've got to get him a lot of treatment and a lot of rest... He played pretty banged up for most of the year. He could have easily gone and sat out if it was a different guy, but with Dairese, it's a different mentality." Alford said it is now up to the trainers to make sure they get him ready to play tomorrow. "He's just got to get a lot of rest, and our trainers have to earn some money in the next 20 hours."- - - - - -
March 11, 3:16 pmLobos win, but it may have come at a high price. Trainers were looking at Dairese Gary's leg - Gary was clearly in pain as he hobbled off the court. Potentially that could affect BYU or Utah if either team advances to the finals. Seth is going to see if he can find out more information. The Lobos win 75-69, led by the MWC MVP, Darington Hobson with 28 points and 16 rebounds. - - - - - -
March 11, 2:49 pmIt is down to a 3 point game with 4:34 remaining. New Mexico leads Air Force 61-58. If you're not watching the Mtn, you're missing an incredible game. - - - - - -
March 11, 2:32 pmThe Aggies are starting to pull away from the Broncos. They lead 61-48 with 8:54 left in the game. Both Brian Green and Jared Quayle have 13 points for the Aggies and Williams has 11 points. Daequon Montreal and Ike Okoye have 12 points apiece for the Broncos.- - - - - -
March 11, 2:27 pmNo. 14 BYU and No. 8 New Mexico are the two highest-ranked teams to enter the MWC tournament in the league's 11-year history, I just learned in an email from the MWC Director of Communications, Kim Melcher. Along with the Cougars and Lobos, UNLV is expected to receive an at- large bid to the NCAA Tournament, and even SDSU is considered to be "on the bubble," according to ESPN.com. I had a chance to ask BYU Head Coach Dave Rose whether or not he thought four MWC teams deserved to be in the "Big Dance." "I think there's four teams capable of winning a game in the tournament, no question," Rose said. "This league's as good as it's been as far as the quality of teams in the conference." Colorado State and SDSU are set to play in the second quarterfinal game today at 2:30 p.m. PST. The Aztecs are seated directly behind the Rams with only one row separating them, as they watch the second half of the quarterfinal matchup between Air Force and New Mexico. The two teams will be playing for a chance to face the winner of the current game, which is expected to be New Mexico. SDSU has more to lose, as a win against the Rams and a win against the Lobos would most likely solidify their campaign for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Rams, however, would need to win the conference tournament to play their way into the tournament. This game, along with the late game between Utah and UNLV, seem to be the most intriguing quarterfinal matchups of the MWC Tournament. That being said, the Lobos are currently having a hard time putting away Air Force, and only lead the Falcons 48-44 with 13:09 remaining. Darington Hobson and Dairese Gary are leading the way for the Lobos, with 15 and 13 points, respectively. - - - - - -
March 11, 2:25 pmAir Force just cut the lead to 4 on a 3 pointer by Tom Fow, 48-44 with 13:09 remaining. Lobo fans are not happy. - - - - - -
March 11, 2:06 pmAnd just like that, the first half is in the books. Halftime at the Thomas and Mack: New Mexico 38, Air Force 31. Evan Washington hit a running 3 pointer as time expired to pull the Falcons within 7. The Falcons shot 61% in the half but committed 9 turnovers. Darington Hobson, the MWC player of the year, leads all scorers with 13 points for New Mexico. He also has 7 rebounds. - - - - - -
March 11, 1:58 pmThe Utah State Aggies lead at halftime, 35-30. Senior guard Jared Quayle has nine points to lead the Aggies in scoring and junior forward Tai Wesley has eight. The Aggies are shooting 46.7 percent from the field and 50 percent from 3-point land. Turnovers are keeping the Broncos in the game. The Aggies have eight turnovers and the Broncos converted that into seven points.- - - - - -
March 11, 1:43 pmNew Mexico has yet to pull away from the ninth seeded Falcons, only leading 31-22 with 3:48 left in the first half. The Lobos are led by Dairese Gary with 9 , while the Falcons have 3 players with 5 points each. - - - - - -
March 11, 1:21 pmNew Mexico's lead now just stands at 1. The Falcons had took the lead on a three pointer by Todd Fletcher, but the Lobos regained with a layup. Lobos 14, Falcons 13 11:36 first half. - - - - - -
March 11, 1:11 pmLobos shooting the three - 5 attempts, 3 makes so far, two by Roman Martinez. Lobos lead 12-4 early in first half. - - - - - -
March 11, 1:02 pmI'm here at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas as New Mexico gets set to play Air Force to kickoff the quarterfinal round of the MWC tournament. One thing's for sure, the Lobos are very well represented. When the Lobos took the floor just before the game started, the building erupted. With this kind of fan support, the Lobos should be even harder to beat. The two teams are set for tipoff, and we'll keep an eye on how much of a factor the Lobo-favored crowd becomes.- - - - - -
March 11, 12:42 pmThe Utah State Aggies are twenty minutes away from their quarterfinal match-up with Boise State. The Spectrum on Wheels has traveled well and there are many Aggie fans scattered throughout the Lawlor Events Center- - - - - -
March 11, 11:42 amAn absolutely beautiful start to the day here in Las Vegas ([check out the view from my hotel room ](http://www.ksl.com/emedia//usersubmittedpics/1/177/1 7722.jpg? filter=ksl/pgallery)). On my way to the Thomas and Mack Center for a full day of MWC hoops. The first game will feature #1 New Mexico against #9 Air Force. The Falcons pulled out a 19 point victory last night over Wyoming, but shouldn't provide the Lobos much of a scare. Next up is #4 San Diego State against #5 Colorado State. Kawhi Leonard is one of the league's best freshman and will be fun to watch. I like the Aztecs in this one. #2 BYU will play #7 TCU in the 3rd game of the day. The Cougars defeated TCU by 20 points in their first meeting and 30 points in their 2nd. That doesn't bode well for the Frogs. The last game of the day will feature #3 UNLV against #6 Utah. The Utes defeated the Rebels in both matchups this season.- - - - - -
March 10, 9:45 pmAnthony Johnson lead Montana to a Big Sky Championship scoring a Big Sky Championship game record 42 points. The Grizzlies were down 20 at half but Johnson scored 32 points in the second half to get the Big Sky's bid for the NCAA Tournament.- - - - - -
March 10, 6:32 pmWeber State guard Nick Hansen will be playing in the Championship game banged up. He injured himself last night in the win against Portland State. Hansen went for a steal and the loose ball was going out of bounds, he dived for ball knocking it back in play but landed on the scores table and some fans. Hansen's wrist was swollen this morning and his big toe was clack and blue from the fall. Trainers have examined Hansen and have cleared him to play.- - - - - -
March 10, 4:56 pmAir Force just took care of Wyoming, 59-40. The Falcons looked pretty good, with 6-foot-8 forward Grant Parker leading the way with 15 points and three rebounds. The Falcons have earned the opportunity to play No. 1 seed New Mexico. While New Mexico will be favored to win, keep in mind this is the same Air Force team that took the Lobos to the wire before falling 59-56 after a late Darington Hobson putback.- - - - - -
March 10, 4:25 pmAlthough the BYU men's basketball team has had very successful regular seasons lately, it's no secret the Cougars have struggled in postseason play. The Cougars haven't taken home an MWC tournament championship since 2001, and have reached the finals only twice since then, dropping both championship games to tournament host UNLV. I asked Jackson Emery if Rose was doing or saying anything different this year to help motivate his team. "I don't think he has to do too much motivating, because if you're not motivated to be here, there's a problem right there," Emery said. "But for the most part, we're motivated. We've just got to take it one game at a time and I think he does a really good job of helping us focus on one game and not overlooking another." If there is one thing Rose isn't using to motivate his team, its the possibility of improving its seeding position for the NCAA Tournament. "We all understand that, but that's not a motivating thing for us because we can't control any of that," Rose said. "We don't have any idea what (the selection committee is) going to do. We're glad we're in the situation we're in right now, and we want to win basketball games for a lot more reasons than that."- - - - - -
March 10, 4:03 pmAlthough New Mexico's Darington Hobson was selected as the MWC Player of the Year, many believe BYU guard Jimmer Fredette should have been the player to receive the award, including his teammates. Fredette's teammate, Jackson Emery said the team was dissappointed that Fredette didn't win the award. "We think he's the MVP of the conference," said Emery before suggesting that Fredette not getting the award will influence his play at the tournament. "I think Jimmer has something to prove, that he's one of the best players in the Mountain West." So does Jimmer feel he has something to prove while he's in Las Vegas? "Kind of. They just didn't choose me for conference player of the year and Darington had a great year as well," Fredette said, mentioning that part of the reason Hobson won the award was that he was the best player on the team that won the conference. "But I'm going to go out there, and I want to be the best player... Hopefully I can go out and show that." As for his health, Fredette had a message for Cougar fans. "I want everyone to know I'm feeling pretty good," Fredette said. "I'm doing well. No stomach problems, energy levels are fine... I'm excited for this tournament to get started." Emery said he knows his teammate will be ready to go. "Jimmer's looking good," Emery said. "It's good to see that he's not sick. Hopefully he doesn't get any food poisoning in the next 24 hours or so." Speaking of health issues, it looks like backup point guard Lamont Morgan Jr. is ready to get back on the court after undergoing knee surgery. "Lamont practiced Monday and Tuesday live for the first time," BYU Head Coach Dave Rose said. "There is a chance that he could play. We'll see how things work out." Since Morgan's surgery, guard Michael Loyd Jr. has enjoyed a coming out party of sorts, scoring 19 points against New Mexico and 18 points against Utah. With the emergence of Loyd, it's hard to imagine Morgan seeing much time on the court even if he is fully recovered.- - - - - -
March 10, 3:28 pmJackson Emery, Jimmer Fredette and Dave Rose took some time Wednesday afternoon to speak with the media, just before the Air Force vs. Wyoming game tipped off. Both players seemed upbeat, and ready to get things started. As luck would have it, BYU and Utah shared a flight to Las Vegas. "It wasn't too awkward. We know some of the (Utah) guys just from playing (in Utah)," Emery said with a chuckle. "For the most part there wasn't any grudges or hatred or anything. It helps when you beat them two times." (I guess he couldn't resist throwing that part in there.) Emery said that some BYU players even sat next to Utah players, namely Logan Magnusson (BYU) and Ricky Shoff. Emery couldn't help but laugh when a reporter asked him if he sat next to Marshall Henderson, the same player who sent Emery to the ground with a backhand earlier in the season. Henderson also refused to shake hands with Emery at the beginning of the teams' second meeting in Salt Lake City. "I saw Marshall, but I didn't sit next to him," Emery said. Fredette said he enjoyed the trip, despite sharing a flight with the rival Utes. "It was fine, we talked to them and everything," Fredette said. "They're great guys and coach (Jim) Boylen is a great guy. He came over and talked to us, cracked some jokes and everything." Rose said Wednesday wasn't the first time BYU and Utah's basketball teams had unexpectedly shared a flight to the conference tournament, noting the same thing happened when he was an assistant on former BYU Head Coach Steve Cleveland's staff.- - - - - -
March 10, 11:35 amFrom Utah head coach Jim Boylen's twitter account this morning: "Leaving shortly for the airport. Flying down to Vegas this morning on Southwest. I've been told that we will be sharing a plane with BYU."- - - - - -
March 9, 10:08 pmDamian Lillard scores 23 points to lead Weber State to a 69-60 over Portland State. The Wildcats will play Montana tomorrow in the championship game. - - - - - -
March 9, 4:52 pmA Portland State Viking fan has found a new way to try to get into the heads of opposing teams. Facebook. The Portland State fan went onto the social networking site facebook and tracked down every single player on Weber State's roster and sent them a message. The message included how Weber is not going to beat Portland on Tuesday, that Portland State has gone through more as a team on and off the court and are more deserving than Weber State. She also included that Weber State might be the number one seed but that Portland State is the best team in the entire Tournament and they will be champions. She continued saying that if Weber State did win it would be because of the refs calling in favor of Weber State and not calling a fair game. It appears that the trash talking from fans has started early and in new creative ways.
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