The Mountain West tournament tipped off earlier today, with Air Force defeating Fresno State in a game of no immediate NIT consequence (look, sorry, it’s been a busy day and I’m just getting around to these). It’s the first tournament to feature day games, and it’s the first that, once ignited, will not take any days off between now and its championship game. Giddy up, Mountain West.
There’s one primary NIT contender in the Mountain West, and that’s Utah State. The Aggies were supposed to be really good this year. They aren’t really good. They’re decent, though, and if they do make the NIT, and Neemias Queta plays, instead of doing something reckless like sitting out to prepare for the NBA Draft, they’ll be a title contender. To make it, they probably just need to lose at any point, but it might be a good idea to lose in the semi’s, rather than the championship, and if they do make the championship, and it’s against San Diego State, they’d be wise to lose by twenty or more to avoid accidentally passing the other tournament committee’s dreaded eye test. Keep an eye on them as the week goes on in our NIT Bracketology.
Behind Utah State, there are a few other teams with NIT shots. My colleague’s model doesn’t think much of them, but it’s not impossible for Nevada, Colorado State, Boise State, or possibly even UNLV to crack the field (might be impossible for UNLV—jury is out on that one). Because of the way the bracket’s structured, it’s very unlikely more than one of those will make it (heck, it’s unlikely even one will make it, but Joe says we should expect our model to get at least one big surprise from the underworld next Sunday). It’s more likely each overshoots, winning the MWC Tourney and accidentally getting locked into playing in the bad tournament. Still, the possibility is there.
Other Things to Know About the Mountain West:
- I am not from there. I’m from Illinois.
- The tournament takes place in Las Vegas, which is kind of like Reno but further south.
- San Diego State won the regular season title but has no chance at an NIT automatic bid. The state of San Diego is very disappointed by this.
- Did you know there are mountains in New Jersey? Learned that on Twitter this week. Those aren’t the “Mountain West” (though they are in the western half of the state), but the word “mountain” made me think of it.
- At one point in The Air Force Song (I don’t know it’s real name), there’s a line that goes “We live in fame or go down in flame,” and if that doesn’t sum up the whole of the underdog experience in the MWC Tournament, I don’t know what does.
