2024 NCAA Tournament: #10 Virginia vs. #10 Colorado State: Game Preview, How To Watch, Odds, Prediction

The Virginia Cavaliers face off with the Colorado State Rams in a First Four matchup. Here’s what to look out for.

2024 NCAA Tournament: #10 Virginia vs. #10 Colorado State: Game Preview, How To Watch, Odds, Prediction


The Rams and Cavaliers face off in the First Four


Contact/Follow @J0shFr3d & @MWCwire

Can the Rams move on?

WHO: #10 Virginia Cavaliers (23-10) vs. #10 Colorado State Rams (24-10)

WHEN: Wednesday, March 19th — 7:10 p.m. MST / 6:10 p.m. PST

WHERE: UD Arena; Dayton, OH (13,409)

TV: TruTV

STREAM: Max will be carrying the entire NCAA Tournament

SERIES RECORD: This will be the first ever matchup between the two schools.

ODDS: Colorado State -2.5

It’s not the expected First Four matchup, but we’re here now. Colorado State was not predicted to be the final team in the tournament and Virginia was not predicted to be in the tournament at all. Now both squads face off to send themselves to the first round.

Colorado State finished 7th in the Mountain West and lost to New Mexico in the Mountain West semi-finals. Virginia finished 3rd in the ACC and lost to NC State in the ACC semi-finals. Both squads lost to the eventually tournament champions.

Players to Watch

F Jacob Groves – Virginia

The senior forward form Spokane, WA will be a player for the Rams to key on on defense. Groves is a 6’9″ forward who isn’t afraid to let it fly from deep (He has three or more attempted threes in 20 out 33 games for Virginia). Limiting Groves from deep will be a big factor for CSU.

F Joel Scott – Colorado State

The former D2 Player of the Year has stepped up in a big way for the Rams at the end of the season. Since a defeat to San Diego State in February, Scott has been averaging 16.4 points on 58.7% shooting from the floor. His inside game has been key for the Rams since they’ve struggled from the outside in conference play.

Keys to the Game

Virginia

Limiting the Rams open looks and keeping them on the outside will be the keys on defense for Virginia. The Cavaliers defense is one of the best in the nation, but the CSU offense is one of the best at ball movement. If Virginia wants to play on Thursday, they’ll have to stay consistent the entire game.

On offense, the Cavaliers need to keep the Rams moving. CSU’s defense doubles the post a decent amount which leaves 4 on 3 for the offense. This causes the Rams to rotate to cover the open man and they have a tendency to overrun their rotation leaving a wide open shot or cut to the basket.

Colorado State

Wait for your shot. The Virginia defense allows for ball rotation and the CSU Princeton-style offense wants to keep the ball moving back and forth. The Cavaliers defense is suffocating, so the Rams can’t force a shot like they have been. They need to be patient and get inside looks.

When CSU is on defense, it’s a similar story. Virginia plays at the slowest tempo in the NCAA. This can lull teams to sleep at times. So the Rams will need to maintain their patience and cover their man until they get the ball back on offense.

Predictions

This one will be a dog fight. CSU has the better offense and Virginia has the better defense. The Rams have been doing damage inside and win when they do so. The Cavaliers smothering defense will keep this close. This could come down to the last couple minutes, but the Rams will use that chip on their shoulder to come out on top.

Final Score: Colorado State 62, Virginia 57

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1361]

[protected-iframe id=”f7652191f99ba13728097498e8a79cd8-137729785-123448869″ info=”https://open.spotify.com/embed-podcast/show/48681pqFq0kB9dhrtPPoNd” width=”100%” height=”232″ frameborder=”0″]

2024 NCAA Tournament: Utah State Basketball-A First Look at the TCU Horned Frogs

2024 NCAA Tournament: Utah State Basketball-A First Look at the TCU Horned Frogs Who are the Horned Toads? Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire MWC Regular Season Champion Utah State draw battle hardened TCU in First Round matchup in Indy. First …

[mm-video type=playlist id=01fb7dafw2b08817yr player_id=none image=https://mwwire.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]


2024 NCAA Tournament: Utah State Basketball-A First Look at the TCU Horned Frogs


Who are the Horned Toads?


Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire

MWC Regular Season Champion Utah State draw battle hardened TCU in First Round matchup in Indy.

First year Head Coach Danny Sprinkle has led Utah State to the NCAA Tournament. With an at-large ticket punched, thanks to one of the more memorable inaugural seasons in Mountain West history in Logan. As the Aggies finished the year with a 28-7 (15-5) record, sole possession of the Regular Season Title & ranked 22nd in the final AP Poll.

Despite losing to San Diego State in the semifinals of the conference tournament on Friday in Las Vegas. The Aggies regular season performance gave them the second highest seed of any Mountain West team, go figure.

With that, fans in Logan heard their team’s name called & paired with former Mountain West member TCU. These two haven’t met on the hardwood since 1982, when Utah State secured the 84-59 win over the visiting Horned Frogs. It definitely was some time ago, as TCU was still a part of the disbanded Southwest Conference & Utah State was a part of the Pacific Coast Athletic Association, now the Big West.

Who Are The Horned Frogs

Some fans around the conference remember TCU from their shared time in the WAC together and later when they joined the Mountain West in 2005. Yes, there were plenty of memories made for teams in Fort Worth. But as the collapse of the Big East began what would become a decade’s worth of conference realignment, the Horned Frogs took the opportunity to rise to the Power 5 level & join the Big 12.

The football driven move made sense for TCU, who never won a Mountain West title of either sort & never finished higher than 5th in the conference. It was a program stagnant and now prepping for a move to one of the country’s most competitive conferences featuring blue blood Kansas & a plethora of other big names.

It was a move that saw the Horned Frogs finish last or second to last place the next four years in their new conference before the coaching carousel blessed them with one of their own.

Coach

Since departing the conference a little over ten years ago, TCU has only had two head coaches, very small by Mountain West standards. Trent Johnson was hired as the man to take the program to the Big 12 promise land. After taking LSU, Stanford & Nevada to the NCAA Tournament before ultimately resigning after a total of four seasons in Baton Rouge.

His time in Fort Worth was short, with only one season finished above .500, it was time to go in a new direction. In comes former starting point guard & coaching heavy hitter Jamie Dixon. Who as a player back in the late eighties, led TCU to the big dance before falling to Notre Dame in the Second Round.

After his playing days, Dixon spent time in the assistant coaching ranks, mostly under UCLA coaching legend Ben Howland. Dixon inherited the Pittsburgh program from his former boss in 2003.

Building the Panther program into a national & Big East powerhouse. Taking Pitt to the NCAA Tournament eleven of his thirteen years with the Panthers, including three Sweet 16 appearances & a run to the Elite eight in 2009.

But what many consider to be a botched move by Pittsburgh’s new AD at the time, sent him back to TCU in 2016. A move he says was timed perfectly, perfect for Horned Frog fans.

Dixon has led his alma mater to four NCAA Tournament appearances in eight seasons. Including three straight with their participation in this year’s tournament announced Saturday. A result fans of the program for the last few decades only dreamed off, but with a track record like Dixon’s, came in no time at all.

Star Players

Sr. F-Emmanuel Miller (6’7, 215)

Stats: 15.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 2.7 APG & 1.1 SPG in 33 Games, 33 Starts

Sr. G-Jameer Nelson Jr. (6’2, 205)

Stats: 11.3 PPG, 3.3 APG, 2.6 RPG & 2.0 SPG in 33 Games, 21 Starts

Sr. G-Micah Peavy (6’8, 215)

Stats: 11.1 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.7 APG & 1.3 SPG in 33 Games, 33 Starts

How Did They Get Here

Like the Mountain West, the Big 12 was an absolute minefield to navigate from top to bottom. TCU utilized a hot 7-0 start in non-conference play & 11-2 finish to prepare an expected gauntlet in a new look Big 12.

The conference added BYU, Cincinnati, UCF & Houston ahead of the season. Creating the largest version of the conference ever at fourteen teams, before the expected departure of Oklahoma & Texas to the SEC this summer.

So in a conference no member has ever navigated before, for the first & only time ever, TCU went to work. Finishing the regular season with a 21-12 (9-9, 7th in Big 12) record, they joined the conference tournament as a No. 8 seed & a First Round Bye. Their first opponent was the Oklahoma Sooners, whom TCU had only faced once in conference play (A 80-71 win at home in January).

Jamie Dixon’s team survived their Second Round opponent, to advance with a 77-70 win over the Sooners, thanks to a monster 26 point performance from senior Emanuel Miller. The Quarterfinals were not as kind to the Horned Frogs. As No. 1 seeded Houston used a poor shooting night from deep by TCU & stout defense to defeat Dixon’s team 60-45, enroute to the championship game on Saturday.

It wasn’t the way any team wants to go out in March. But finishing in the top-half of what KenPom.com ($) has ranked as the top conference in the entire country by a very credible margin, has it’s perks.

One of those perks being a punched ticket to this year’s Big Dance. Facing No. 8 Utah State as a No. 9 seed in the First Round of the Midwest bracket in Indianapolis, IN on Friday afternoon 5:55 PM MT.

Biggest Wins

Saturday January13th, Home vs. No. 2 Houston 68-67

Saturday January 27th, Away @ Baylor 105-102 3OT

Tuesday January 30th, Home vs. No. 15 Texas Tech 85-78

The Metrics

NET Ranking:  42nd

KenPom:  33rd

Larry Muniz covers college basketball as a writer for Mountain West Wire and WAC Hoops Digest. Also as a co-host of the college basketball podcast “Hoops Talk W/Jay & Larry”. He is also a USWBA Member.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1361]

2024 NCAA Tournament: Boise State Basketball-A First Look at the Colorado Buffaloes

2024 NCAA Tournament: Boise State Basketball-A First Look at the Colorado Buffaloes Who are the Buffaloes? Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire Boise State draws First Four matchup in Dayton against Pac-12 foe Colorado. The Mountain West …

[mm-video type=playlist id=01fb7dafw2b08817yr player_id=none image=https://mwwire.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]


2024 NCAA Tournament: Boise State Basketball-A First Look at the Colorado Buffaloes


Who are the Buffaloes?


Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire

Boise State draws First Four matchup in Dayton against Pac-12 foe Colorado.

The Mountain West Conference received a record setting six bids to the NCAA Tournament on Selection Sunday. Though after hammering each other twice a week, every week since January. The six teams that had their tickets punched, were given what many consider to be lower than deserved seeds.

For a conference that KenPom.com ($) has ranked as the seventh best in the entire country. With an extremely comfy margin between their Adjusted Efficiency ranking of +10.39 & the next best’s, the Atlantic 10 at +5.13. Even giving the Pac-12 a run for their money and their number 6th ranking of +10.94. Never the less, one of the Mountain West’s bigger seeding causalities on Selection Sunday was the Boise State Broncos.

After Leon Rice led his team to a second place tie with Nevada and a 22-10 (13-5, 2nd in the MWC) regular season record, top-30 NET Ranking (w/six Quad 1 wins) & a top-40 KenPom ranking.

It’s very frustrating, as the Broncos now have to earn their spot in the Field of 64. In a battle for the No. 10 seed against the Colorado Buffaloes, scheduled for Wednesday March 20th, in Dayton, OH with a 5:10 PM MT tip-off. The winner of that First Four contest goes on to face the Florida Gators as the No. 7 seed in the South region.

Who Are The Buffaloes

The Colorado Buffaloes have an extremely long history as members of the Big 12, dating all the way back to post-World War II, when the conference was known as the Big 7.

Possibly known for their gridiron dominance from the early eighties to mid-nineties under all-time great Buffaloes coach Bill McCartney. Who led them to nine bowl appearances in 13 seasons, not to mention the schools lone football National Championship in 1990.

On the hardwood though, Colorado hasn’t made a deep run since before the end of the Vietnam Conflict. Since, the program has seen five different head coaches come and gone.

With only two NCAA Tournament appearances to show for it, in over four decades. To say the program was a bit of an after thought in the Big 8 as well as out West is an understatement. But change was coming in Boulder, plenty of it.

As an announced move to what was then known as the Pac-10 was made public in 2010. The move also brought the program’s winningest head coach with them, in first year head man Tad Boyle.

Coach

Boyle took over at Colorado in their last season in the Big 12. Taking over from former NBA Head Coach Jeff Bzdelik, who left when he accepted his “dream job” at Wake Forrest in 2010.

Boyle had just led his hometown Northern Colorado Bears to a second place finish in the Big Sky behind a Damian Lillard led Weber State team. A mark celebrated after aiding Northern Colorado in their transition to the D-I ranks, beginning with a 4-24 season just three seasons prior.

After arriving in Boulder in 2010, he led the Buffaloes to a 5th place finish in their final season in the Big 12, their best in five years. He would then lead them to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances. For a grand total of six in fourteen seasons.

Their most recent trip coming in 2021, as a No. 5 seed, their highest in the tournament’s most modern iteration. A trip that is something fans in Boulder are coming to expect out of their basketball program. As they should, with a coach like Boyle in charge. With his local ties to the area, it’s easy to buy in to what the Buffaloes are selling every season.

Star Players

Jr. G-KJ Simpson (6’2, 190)

Stats: 19.6 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 4.9 APG & 1.6 SPG in 34 Games, 34 Starts

Sr. F-Tristan Da Silva (6’9, 220)

Stats: 15.8 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 2.4 APG & 1.1 SPG in 31 Games, 31 Starts

Fr. F-Cody Williams (6’8, 190)

Stats: 12.6 PPG, 3.3 RPG & 1.7 APG in 21 Games, 18 Starts

How Did They Get Here

Colorado was brought into the Pac-12 promise lands by Boyle almost immediately. But with conference realignment charged turmoil surrounding their home last year with the departures of UCLA, USC, Oregon & Washington to the Big Ten starting the summer of 2024, the Buffaloes had to act. Announcing a move back to the Big 12 last July, Tad Boyle will now be tasked with a move back to the conference where he cut his high major teeth in. So enjoying their last ride in the Pac-12 as fans everywhere know it, they went to work.

Using a strong yet short, 9-2 run through non-conference play with a pair of impressive wins over Richmond & Miami (FL) to prepare for their last run at a Pac-12 title. The ensuing 20-game conference slate would prove challenging.

As the Buffaloes battled their way to a 3rd place finish & 24-10 (13-7, 3rd in Pac-12) regular season record while earning the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament in Las Vegas.

Colorado earned a opening round bye & was slated to take on No. 6 seeded Utah in the quarterfinals on Thursday. They had split the regular season series with the Utes, but managed to post a solid 72-58 win over their conference foes to advance to the semifinals. Thanks to a great scoring performance from their trio of KJ Simpson, Eddie Lampkin Jr. & Tristan da Silva.

Next came Washington State on Friday, another team whom they had split their conference series with. The Cougars though, proved to be a formidable opponent for the Buffaloes. As Tad Boyle’s group narrowly advanced with a 58-52 win over Washington State, thanks again to an offensive effort spearheaded by Simpson with a game high 16 points.

That took them all the way to the championship game on Saturday night, against No. 4 seed Oregon. A game lost in the post, in part due to a flawless performance from Oregon big man N’Faly Dante who had 25 points off of 12-12 shooting from the floor.

With that Colorado was sent home without any hardware, though their fate as an at-large bid might have just been sealed in Vegas. As the Buffaloes were announced as a First Four selection on Sunday, pegged to due battle for a spot in the Field of 64 against a Cinderella-esque Bronco team on Wednesday.

Biggest Wins

Thursday January 18th, Home vs. Oregon 86-70

Saturday February 24th, Home vs. Utah 89-65

Friday March 15th, Neutral vs. Washington State 58-52

The Metrics

NET Ranking:  25th

KenPom:  26th

Larry Muniz covers college basketball as a writer for Mountain West Wire and WAC Hoops Digest. Also as a co-host of the college basketball podcast “Hoops Talk W/Jay & Larry”. He is also a USWBA Member.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1361]

2024 Mountain West Championship: New Mexico Secures First MWC Tournament Title in Over a Decade with 68-61 win over SDSU

Game Recap: No. 6 New Mexico 68, No. 5 San Diego State 61 Jaelen House get’s his moment & secures his first MWC title in his last conference game. Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire New Mexico secures first conference tournament title in a …

[mm-video type=playlist id=01fb7dafw2b08817yr player_id=none image=https://mwwire.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]


 Game Recap: No. 6 New Mexico 68, No. 5 San Diego State 61


Jaelen House get’s his moment & secures his first MWC title in his last conference game.


Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire

New Mexico secures first conference tournament title in a decade, thanks to the play of Jaelen House & JT Toppin.

Las Vegas, NV–If there were any better cherry on top of what has been one of the more competitive & entertaining Mountain West seasons in recent years, it was the championship game slated for Saturday afternoon in sin city. A showdown between longtime conference rivals No. 5 seed San Diego State & No. 6 seed New Mexico.

Two teams that may not have been on everyone’s bracket in the MWC Tournament title game, but two deserving programs nonetheless. New Mexico won three straight games in three straight days to get here. Beating Air Force on Wednesday (82-56), Boise State (76-66) on Thursday & Colorado State (74-61) late Friday night.

While San Diego State got a bye into the quarterfinals on Thursday, where they narrowly squeezed by UNLV 74-71. Then upsetting No. 1 seed & regular season champion Utah State 86-70 on Friday.

It isn’t unfamiliar territory for either program, but it’s been a second home for one & a once in a while destination for the other. San Diego State have become fixtures in the Mountain West Tournament title game the last decade. Making nine appearances in ten years & cutting the nets down four times in that span.

While New Mexico made a Cinderella style run in Paul Weir’s first season in Albuquerque back in 2018. That game was also against the Aztecs & their “first year” Head Coach Brian Dutcher. The Lobos fell 82-75 to their conference rivals that year.

Missing out on the title, one they haven’t brought home to Albuquerque since Craig Neals first year in charge in Albuquerque back in 2014. Noodles inherited a Steve Alford built roster to help lift that trophy. With history & an automatic berth to the big dance on the line, each team needed to cap amazing individual seasons with an amazing win Saturday afternoon.

The Lobos momentum was still in full swing at tip-off. Hitting the floor hard in the opening minutes on a 6-2 run. A Darrion Trimmell three pointer brought the Aztecs to within one. Sparked by Jaelen Houses’ energy, New Mexico found their offensive rhythm, though San Diego State kept things close.

Richard Pitino’s squad enjoyed small runs all throughout the first half. The first thanks to five straight Jamal Mashburn Jr. points, giving New Mexico their biggest lead to that point, 16-8 approaching the ten minute mark. To be followed with four straight three point field goals (3-House & 1-Mashburn Jr.) to extend their lead to double-digits, 30-18.

After a JT Toppin layup gave the Lobos the 34-20 lead approaching the two minute mark, the Aztecs made their stand. Going on a 10-2 run before half-time, with all points coming in the paint from their frontcourt duo of Jay Pal & JaeDon LeDee. As the buzzer sounded, New Mexico went into the locker rooms up 36-30.

Second Half

Even though the Lobos surrendered the closing minutes of the first half to the Aztecs, they wouldn’t let that influence how they emerged from half-time. Earning a quick five points from their backcourt duo before San Diego State decided it was time to put the clamp down.

The Aztecs fell victim to New Mexico’s fast pace style of play most of the game. Leading to their deficit & leadless first half. But Brian Dutcher’s squad wins their games in a much slower & physically charged way. San Diego State made a stand that would turn what was a comfortable Lobo lead most of the game into a one procession dogfight the rest of the way.

The Aztecs would turn to a style of play called, pass the ball to Jaedon. A play that would see LeDee vie for position in the post, receive the ball & eight times out of ten get fouled & head to the line. The other two times out of ten he would make the shot.

Creating quite a conundrum for New Mexico, who became spooked & decided their approach would be fouling the Aztec big to make him earn his points at the free throw line. Well, it sounded nice in theory. But LeDee came into this one shooting 72.4% from the free throw line. LeDee would go to the line multiple times over the next ten minutes, slowing the game down & taking New Mexico out of their offensive rhythm almost immediately.

A Jaelen House technical foul approaching the ten minute mark would trigger a series of plays that ultimately gave San Diego State their first lead of the game at 44-43 thanks to a Reese Waters jumper.

The next ten minutes were an exchange of free throws with a few genuine field goals scattered about. It brought everything down to the final two minutes of the game. Were both squads were tied at fifty-nine a piece, a time where the only way New Mexico would pull the upset would be if someone scored true field goals & rebounded when their opponents didn’t.

In comes MWC Freshman of the Year JT Toppin, Who grabbed four rebounds & scored five points, which became the cushion needed for third year Head Coach Richard Pitino to secure his first conference title.

The Lobos began to celebrate their 68-61 win at the buzzer, as the first No. 6 seed to win the Mountain West Conference Tournament ever. Jamal Mashburn Jr. joined House & Toppin in double-figures 21 points thanks to some very clutch shooting from all three-levels of scoring.

Player Spotlights

New MexicoJT Toppin & Jaelen House

Stat line: House-28 points, 5 rebounds & 3 steals on 10-22 (45.4%) from the floor & 3-7 (42.8%) from deep in 36 minutes of action Toppin-13 points & 11 rebounds on 6-8 (75%) from the floor in 35 minutes of action

The performance House had in the first half is the reason the Lobos were able to stay competitive as the Aztecs began chipping away at their grip on the lead. But it was also his level head in the second half as his team struggled, continuing to give effort & not letting it get to his head. His game high 28 points help attribute to an amazing final MWC game ever. And to go out cutting down the nets in the Pit West, there is no better feeling.

JT Toppin stepped up with his double-double as frontcourt mate Nelly Junior-Joseph was mainly tasked with keeping Aztec x-factor LeDee unimpactful until he absolutely couldn’t. So Toppin contributed in all the best ways down low, blocking & altering shots, securing boards of both variety & making shots when no one else could. I couldn’t give the spotlight to just one players as the game was won with the performances of both.

San Diego State F-Jaedon LeDee

Stat line: 25 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists on 7-12 shooting (58.3%) from the floor & a whopping 11-11 (100%) from the free throw line in 37 minutes of play

LeDee went scoreless in the first fifteen minutes of the game. Which is something no one realized until he began scoring every single minutes of the game going forward. The Aztec big man found his confidence late in the first half & found his role going forward, wrecking ball who can shoot free throws, exactly to his liking. LeDee can score at all three levels but is his most consistent battling for space in the paint.

No other Aztec scored in double-figures & his 100% performance from the charity stripe is the a huge piece of why the momentum of the game was laid gently in their hands most of the second-half. It was an All-Tournament level performance for the ages, a great way to cap a great career in the Mountain West.

Next Up:

With the final buzzer in Las Vegas on Saturday night, the conference postseason comes to a close with an incredible performance from all teams involved. The only thing left to do is tune in tomorrow Sunday March 17th for this year’s production of the NCAA Tournament Selection Show.

You can watch Selection Sunday on CBS at 4:00 PM MT & 3:00 PM PT. A streamed version of the show can be viewed on NCAA.com during their March Madness Live Special.

Larry Muniz covers college basketball as a writer for Mountain West Wire and WAC Hoops Digest. Also as a co-host of the college basketball podcast “Hoops Talk W/Jay & Larry”. He is also a USWBA Member.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1361]

Why San Diego State can win the Mountain West Tournament

After a disappointing 11-7 season, San Diego State has the 5th seed in the Mountain West tournament. Despite finishing lower than most thought they would, there is still hope for a tournament championship, as well as an automatic bid and higher seed …

After a disappointing 11-7 season, San Diego State has the 5th seed in the Mountain West tournament. Despite finishing lower than most thought they would, there is still hope for a tournament championship, as well as an automatic bid and higher seed in the big dance. Here’s why:

Defense

SDSU has the 8th best defense in the nation, and the best in the Mountain West. The Next closest is Boise State down at 28th. That defense has let the Aztecs keep every game close, the only exception being an 18-point loss in the PIT. Even with that loss, the Aztecs average margin of defeat is a mere six points. In their last four losses, it’s only 3.75 points.

Every loss has been one or two plays away from being a different result. Compare that to champion Utah State, who lost their four games by an average of 15.25 points. When other teams have an off night they tend to lose badly. When the Aztecs have an off night, the game can go either way. That’s due to their elite defense. Just like their defense carried them to the national championship last season, it can carry them to the Mountain West Championship this season.

2024 Mountain West Basketball Tournament, Bracket, Schedule

Jaedon LeDee

What needs to be said about Jaedon LeDee? He should be named an All-American, and he is the most deserving player for the Conference Player of the Year award. He ranks first in Player Impact Plus-Minus, Box Plus-Minus, Win Shares, and leads the league in scoring despite being double and triple-teamed every time he touches the ball. He has come across those points in a hyper-efficient manner, ranking in the 91st percentile nationally in terms of points per possession. To top things off, he is also 4th in the conference in total rebounds.

He has been held to less than 15 points only four times since conference season started, all on the road, and has scored more than 20 points ten times in that same span. Opponents can not stop him, they can only hope to contain him. A scorer like that, combined with elite defense, is a great foundation for winning.

Better luck

For those that believe in such things, the Aztecs have had some terrible luck this season. Players who have historically been good shooters have heavily regressed, and are missing wide open shots. Easy layups have rolled out. And to make matters worse, opponents have been hitting shots like the one Max Rice hit in overtime at Viejas.

KenPom measures the luck of each team, and the Aztecs rank 274th nationally in terms of luck. Well below average, meaning they’ve had a healthy amount of bad luck. For comparison, Utah State is 18th nationally, and Nevada is 33rd. In the teams in the top five of the tournament, SDSU is by far the worst.

On the bright side, that could mean fortune is about to change. One extra stop, and one extra basket made is the difference in most of the Aztecs’ losses. Getting that little extra will mean the difference between winning and going home early.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1361]

2024 MWC Tournament: Three Reasons Why the Utah State Aggies Can Win It All

Can the recently crowned MWC Regular Season Champions Pull off the Double? 2024 MWC Tournament: Why the Utah State Aggies can win it all. Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire Utah State travels to Las Vegas in search of their second league title …

[mm-video type=playlist id=01fb7dafw2b08817yr player_id=none image=https://mwwire.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]


Can the recently crowned MWC Regular Season Champions Pull off the Double?


2024 MWC Tournament: Why the Utah State Aggies can win it all.


Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire

Utah State travels to Las Vegas in search of their second league title in a weeks time, here’s how they can win it all.

It’s that time folks, March Madness. A time for the sport to receive a huge boost in national attention & fanfare. But before we can all tune into non-stop basketball from breakfast to dinner. Several tickets still need to be punched.

The same holds true in the Mountain West. As teams prepare to kick off what could be four straight days of basketball for some & a quit exit for others on Wednesday afternoon in Las Vegas.

There isn’t necessarily a defined easy path to the title game. Even though some won’t have to hit the floor until day two. Everyone has a chance to to climb the ladder come Saturday. But the recently crowned Mountain West Regular Season Champions Utah State may have the leg up on the competition.

The Track Record

First year Head Coach Danny Sprinkle knows a little something about punched tickets & cutting down nets. The former Montana State head man led his alma mater to back-to-back conference championships & NCAA Tournament appearances, their first in program history.  Last year’s tournament matchup against Kansas State of the Big 12 wasn’t your typical lower seed early exit either.

They hit the national stage & gave No. 3 Kansas State a run for their money in a potential upset as the No. 14 seed. Montana State gained the lead early on over their Big 12 foe. The Wildcats would go on several runs to create distance between them & Danny Sprinkle’s group. Though the Bobcats didn’t go quietly, keeping the deficit to single digits most of the way.

Montana State would fall 77-65 to one of the more dangerous teams to emerge in last season’s tournament. Kansas State would go on a run to the Elite Eight before falling to the tournament’s true Cinderella, Florida Atlantic. Something that might not have happened if the Bobcats would have pulled off the upset.

Has the right team been assembled in Logan that can give Coach Sprinkle his third straight trip to the NCAA Tournament & a chance at securing his first win?

The Fire Power

Aside from having an experienced head coach leading the team to the Field of 68 promise land, you’ll need the players capable of scoring enough points to get you there. The Aggies have plenty of that, with the second highest scoring average in the conference & a top-40 adjusted offensive efficiency ranking on KenPom.

Danny Sprinkle also has four different double-digit scorers to rely on with all four capable of huge scoring outbursts any given night. With the quartet of Great Osobor, Ian Martinez, Darius Brown II & Mason Falslev holding 25 combined 20+ point game performances in the regular season.

Also, to put current season averages aside. Brown II & Osobor have NCAA Tournament experience from their time at Montana State together. While Martinez played in the tournament himself last year at Maryland. Where the Terrapins went 1-1 before falling 73-51 to No. 1 seed Alabama in the Second Round in the South Region.

With a deep, highly capable & experienced squad. The Aggies have the chance to win their first game in the big dance since 2001, in Stew Morrill’s third season in Logan. To give them the opportunity, they’ll need the right man running the show in Las Vegas, luckily they have just the player.

The Floor General

For any good team to flourish in a high stress environment such as the Thomas & Mack Center in March, you need a good leader. It doesn’t get much better around the Mountain West than Aggie point guard Darius Brown II. The graduate transfer from Montana State has been a key piece to what could easily be described as the feel good story of the college basketball season.

He’s made a jump in competition twice in the past two off-seasons. Each time locking in & stepping up his own level of play to whatever is needed for his new squad, usually being coached by Sprinkle.

His career high averages in points (12.4 PPG), assists (6.4 APG), rebounds (4.4 RPG) & three point shooting totals (40.4%, on 57/141 attempts) this season have proven huge for Utah State. Especially that last statistic, as Brown II has netted two three point game winners in the past few weeks.

Two clutch moments in Utah State’s escape from Fresno State back in late February. Not traditional game winners, but not one but two clutch moments in a game that essentially led to his team winning a surprisingly tough road game.

As mentioned prior, anyone can win this time of year, it’s March Madness for crying out lout. But not many other teams are primed for an NCAA Tournament appearance like Utah State.

Whether or not that path to the big dance includes a second conference title on Saturday remains to be seen. But you won’t find many folks betting against the Aggies this week.

Larry Muniz covers college basketball as a writer for Mountain West Wire and WAC Hoops Digest. Also as a co-host of the college basketball podcast “Hoops Talk W/Jay & Larry”. He is also a USWBA Member.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1361]

Utah State Secures Outright MWC Title, With 87-85 Win Over New Mexico

Game Recap: No. 22 Utah State 87, New Mexico 85 Utah State Secures Outright MWC Title, With 87-85 Win Over New Mexico Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire Darius Brown II’s game winning three pointer gives Utah State & Danny Sprinkle their first …

[mm-video type=playlist id=01fb7dafw2b08817yr player_id=none image=https://mwwire.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]


 Game Recap: No. 22 Utah State 87, New Mexico 85


Utah State Secures Outright MWC Title, With 87-85 Win Over New Mexico


Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire

Darius Brown II’s game winning three pointer gives Utah State & Danny Sprinkle their first outright MWC title.

Logan, UT–As some teams were engaging in conference tournament championship games around the country. Teams in the Mountain West were still clashing for seeding for their own conference tournament next week in Las Vegas. Part of what could be described as “seeding musical chairs” on Saturday was what could absolutely turn into a dogfight in Logan.

New Mexico packed their bags & headed northwest. Ready to end their season on a win & looking for the sweep over league leaders No. 22 Utah State inside the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

The last time these two met was on January 16th, back when a red hot Lobo team secured the 99-86 upset over the then No. 16 Aggies inside the Pit. And even though New Mexico has cooled off plenty since that magical run in January.

They’ve proven in the very recent past that they can beat Utah State. Something not many others have been able to say this season. With plenty on the line Saturday night, both teams put on an absolute show in Logan.

The Lobos got things started quite quickly as they normally do. With back-to-back field goals by star freshman JT Toppin in a span of about 13 seconds or so. Utah State stayed right with them after several free throws & a dunk by Ian Martinez, which gave them their first lead of the game at 7-6.

The reoccurring theme of the night would be the toe-to-toe style and pace of the game throughout. As both teams exchanged field goals with a tie at 10 a piece thanks to another Toppin layup down low & once again at 12 a piece thanks to a Nelly Junior Joseph layup soon after, both assisted by Jaelen House.

Both teams found plenty of success scoring in the paint. In fact, all scoring was done exclusively inside the arc or at the free throw line until Mustapha Amzil drained a three pointer eight minutes into the first half to bring New Mexico to within one (22-21). This after a 6-0 Utah State run gave them some breathing room until the Lobos regained their scoring form.

Amzil would find his confidence from beyond the arc in the first half Saturday night, scoring the next six Lobo points from deep to keep his squad neck and neck with Danny Sprinkle’s team. Scoring again on a layup before receiving some help via two more layups from Toppin & House.

For Utah State the three-headed attack of Brown II, Martinez & Osobor kept their guests at bay in the first half. Struggling from deep (1-8), but finding layup after layup in the lane with their offensive chemistry on full display.

New Mexico gained their first lead (39-38) since the opening few minutes thanks to a pair of Jaelen House free throws approaching the three minute mark. Javon Jackson would send him back to the line after a missed Osobor jumper on the other end. House’s clutch gene kicked in once again as he drained both free throws to extend the Lobo lead to four (42-38) approaching the two minute mark in the half.

Both teams would close the half on a rather cold note. Missing the next eight field goal attempts combined before a Martinez free throw went in for Utah State. To be followed up by what Donovan Dent does best, a layup on the other end to extend New Mexico’s lead to 44-39 before the half-time buzzer sounded.

The first half was certainly a toe-to-toe bout. With Sprinkle’s aforementioned three-pronged attack leading the way. As Great Osobor lead all scorers with 15 points & 6 rebounds, Ian Martinez being the other Aggie in double-figures with 11 points & Brown II being the catalyst for most of it with 9 points of his own to go along with 5 assists & 4 rebounds.

Without Amzil’s hotstreak in the middle of the half, New Mexico would be playing catchup after the break. Entering half-time with 13 points, primarily off of his stellar 3-4 (75%) shooting performance from deep.

JT Toppin was the other Lobo in double figures with 10 points off of 5-7 (71.4%) shooting. House posted numbers similar to his Aggie counterpart with 9 points, 5 rebounds & 4 assists, playing a similar role for the visiting squad.

The Aggies were not ready to lose their sole possession of the conference championship to New Mexico that easily. They opened the second-half with a 6-0 run thanks to three different players scoring the ball to retake the lead.

Donovan Dent scored New Mexico’s first points of the half with back-to-back driving layups to take back the lead at 48-47. Ian Martinez capitalized on a House turnover with a three pointer giving that lead right back to Utah State.

Out of a commercial timeout Josh Uduje earned his first two points of the game with two free throws to extend the Aggie lead out to 52-48. Only for that lead to be chopped at by House’s first three pointer of the game on the other end.

Each side would exchange a few made field goals after that to rapidly progress the score to 60-57 in just a few minutes of time. Keeping the style & pace of the game fast and effective. The Lobos began relying on three point attempts, finding plenty of success (2-3) while the Aggies made their money any which way they could, mainly at the free throw line.

Baker Jr.’s second three-pointer of the half drove Utah State to call a timeout as the Lobo’s 65-59 lead was setting the scene for a dangerous run. Which when hot, Richard Pitino’s group are as impossible as anyone in the country to catch up with. Just ask the Aggies, who fell victim to such a hot streak back in mid-January in Albuquerque.

Out of the timeout each side would attempt to bank on three pointers to gain a fast edge, neither succeeded. Though after a media timeout gave each side time to once again regroup, Utah State came out swinging. With back-to-back buckets at the rim, shrinking the Lobo lead to just one point, after a Martinez and one opportunity (65-64).

Two more made field goals around the basket kept things close going forward. As JT Toppin began to rediscover his touch around the basket for four straight New Mexico points.

In the midst of a relatively quite night, Mason Falslev drove to the hoop for another layup. Keeping his team to within one point & within striking distance of what was becoming a paper thin Lobo lead.

Another media timeout gave time for Coach Pitino’s group to stop the bleeding & assess the damage before sending Brown II to the free throw line. Those two opportunities he would sink, giving the Aggies back the lead for the first time in over seven minutes.

Dent would tie it up again with a free throw of his own before Martinez sank his third triple of the night on the other end (73-70). He would go on to send Junior-Joseph to the line on the defensive side.

Even after making only one of his two opportunities, Junior-Joseph found a way to tie things up once again with a layup following an Osobor turnover. Keeping fans inside the Spectrum on the edge of their seats as time wound down.

House received his 4th foul of the night soon after, sending Brown II to the line for two more free throws & himself to the bench out of caution with five minutes left to play. As Brown II drained his seventh free throw of the game on one side, Junior-Joseph tied things up once again on the other.

Uduje threw a wrench into the pound for pound style of play with a three pointer. Amzil drained a two-point jumper on the other end to keep New Mexico in it. Now down by just one at 78-77. Soon after he found himself at the charity stripe with a chance to take the lead. Amzil would go 1-2 and tie things up at 78 a piece.

Kalifa Sakho made two huge free throws on the other end to give Utah State the 80-78 lead with a little over two minutes to go in the game. Following a missed House jumper, Falslev drove to the basket in transition to give the Aggies a four point lead. Donovan Dent followed suit with a driving layup of his own to make it a one possession game again.

Sakho would turn the ball over after a New Mexico timeout but Toppin couldn’t capitalize on the other end missing an opportunity down low. Osobor secured the defensive rebound but Martinez couldn’t capitalize himself on the other end.

With a little over a minute left to go an Osobor offensive rebound & miss down low led to a official review under the two minute mark as the ball flew out of bounds.

After the suspense, New Mexico would receive the ball. With the chance to take the lead, the ball went to Donovan Dent. And the super sophomore made it look easy with the game tying layup.

As all seemed destined for overtime, Ian Martinez dunked it home on the other end to give them the 84-82 lead with forty seconds left to go in this nail bitter. You can’t ever tell Jaelen House it’s a lost cause though, as he received the inbound pass, sprinted to the other & drained the two point jumper.

With things all tied up, the ball went into the hands of Utah State’s most experienced player, Darius Brown II. As time chipped away the ball left his hands & the possible game winning three pointer found the bottom of the net to signal the thunderous applause of the home crowd.

As expected, New Mexico took the timeout to set up a possible game tying three pointer. Uduje committed the quick fouled to send House to the line, to take the possible three pointer out of the equation.

After an extremely clutch jumper in their last possession, House would make the first free throw & prepare to miss the second. As only a missed free throw would give New Mexico the chance to send things to overtime with a second chance field goal.

To add insult to injury, House would proceed to miss the second free throw & some questionable play calling (or lack there of) would ensue. Though it didn’t matter. As the final buzzer sounded, students rightfully stormed the court after an extremely successful season & Utah State earned the outright regular season championship after their 87-85 win on senior night.

Coach Pitino would go on to petition the officiating crew after House’s second free throw appeared to have not touched the rim. Something that if noticed & called by the referees would have reset the play & put a few seconds back on the clock. It might not have mattered, but it was an oversight. No such decision was made & both teams called it a night.

The visiting Lobos played valiantly, giving fans across the nation a show the Mountain West is becoming known to produce. Leaving Logan with four players in double-figures, a double-double from Nelly Junior-Joseph (13 points & 10 rebounds) & extremely solid play from it’s stars.

New Mexico fans can only buck up, after losing to the now official Mountain West Regular Season Champions & prepare for the trip next week.

It is the Aggies first outright Mountain West title ever. Not to mention the cherry on top of would could be argued as the most impressive inaugural season for a coach ever by Danny Sprinkle. Who is already seeing his name tied to openings in the upcoming coaching carousel before his team even finishes the season.

To complete the full sweep next week in Las Vegas would be something special. Which, is something this team is totally equipped to do after being picked to finish 9th way back in October of last year.

Player Spotlights

New Mexico FMustapha Amzil

Stat line: 18 points, 5 rebounds & 2 assists on 6-8 (75%) from the floor & 3-5 (60%) from deep in 32 minutes off of the bench.

On a team filled with capable scorers, Amzil managed to come off of the bench & be the difference maker for New Mexico Saturday night. Yes, his team didn’t win.

But I don’t think anyone would argue that the Lobos wouldn’t have even come close to a down to the wire performance in Logan without Amzil’s three point shooting & off the bench production His team high 18 points also helped fill the scoring gap left by Jamal Mashburn Jr. as he sat out entirely with an injury.

Utah State G-Darius Brown II

Stat line: 19 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals & 9 assists on 5-9 shooting (55.5%) from the floor, 7-9 (77.7%) from the line & 1 game winner in 39 minutes of action

Brown II showed everyone why he is gearing up for his likely third NCAA Tournament appearance Saturday night. The graduate transfer helped secure Utah State’s first outright Mountain West title with a beautifully clutch game winning three pointer as time expired.

Along with the biggest play of the game he made others, nearly logging an assist featured double-double with 9 assists & only four turnovers. As a few of his teammates waivered in the second-half, he stayed locked in.

Next Up:

With the wrap to the regular season coming tonight, both teams pack their bags & prepare for a trip oh so many of us make in our life. Straight through to Las Vegas baby.

The Lobos haven’t cut down the nets inside the Thomas & Mack center since Craig Neal’s first season in charge over a decade ago. This team has shown brilliant flashes this season, but will head to Vegas as a bottom half seed with their work cut out for them.

While the Aggies haven’t gotten the chance to climb the ladder inside the Thomas & Mack Center since Craig Smith’s first season back in 2018-2019. The same year they shared their last regular season title with Nevada.

Larry Muniz covers college basketball as a writer for Mountain West Wire and WAC Hoops Digest. Also as a co-host of the college basketball podcast “Hoops Talk W/Jay & Larry”. He is also a USWBA Member.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1361]

Utah State Aggies Host New Mexico Lobos

Utah State Aggies Host New Mexico Lobos Can the Lobos upset the Aggies at the Spectrum Follow @MWCwire The Utah State Aggies (25-5, 13-4 MWC) aim to extend their impressive four-game winning streak as they prepare to face off against the New Mexico …

Utah State Aggies Host New Mexico Lobos


Can the Lobos upset the Aggies at the Spectrum


Follow @MWCwire

The Utah State Aggies (25-5, 13-4 MWC) aim to extend their impressive four-game winning streak as they prepare to face off against the New Mexico Lobos (22-8, 10-7 MWC).

Computer predictions are saying a close game with the Aggies getting the slight edge, the victory 77-75 over the Lobos, so look for a very exciting game to finish regular season play for both teams. 

However, they also predicted the Aggies would win over the Lobos in the PIT earlier this year. Still, the Lobos would have the last say in winning that game in Albuquerque. 

The teams will play the game on Saturday, March 9, 2024, at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. Catch all the action live at 8:30 PM ET on CBS Sports Network.

In a showdown that left no doubt about Utah State’s dominance, the Aggies stormed to a resounding 90-70 victory over the San Jose State Spartans, extending their winning streak to a formidable four games.

 With their sights set on securing an outright regular-season conference championship, the Aggies (25-5, 13-4 Mountain West Conference) are gearing up to defend their home turf against the New Mexico Lobos (22-8, 10-7) on Saturday in Logan, Utah.

Game: New Mexico Lobos vs Utah State Aggies

Date: Saturday, March 9, 2024 

Location: ExtraMile Arena, Boise, Idaho

Time:  8:30 EST, 6:30 MST

TV: CBS Sports Network

Stream: FuboTV — get a free trial

Play by Play: Radio:  77kob Albuquerque 96.3 FM Robert Portnoy/Hunter Greene

Overall Series: New Mexico leads 56-38

Against San Jose State, Utah State dictated the tempo from the opening tip-off, crafting a commanding 53-37 lead by halftime fueled by an impressive barrage of 13 three-pointers.

 Their offensive onslaught continued unabated as they shot a scorching 53.4 percent from the field and a jaw-dropping 59.3 percent from beyond the arc.

Leading the charge for the Aggies was Darius Brown II, who showcased his sharpshooting prowess with 21 points, including seven triples, along with nine assists and five rebounds.

 Mason Falslev contributed 20 points (seven 3-pointers) and six boards, while Great Osobor added 16 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a block. Javon Jackson provided a spark off the bench with 15 points of his own.

Reflecting on the team’s stellar performance, Utah State coach Danny Sprinkle praised his players’ unwavering focus and dedication, emphasizing their collective commitment to excellence.

“It’s kind of one of those feelings that’s hard to explain as a coach, but I knew we were going to play terrific tonight,” Utah State coach Danny Sprinkle said after Wednesday’s win. “Our guys were so locked in. They had a team meeting, and it was a players-only deal. I know the ownership of this group. I knew we were going to play at a high-level tonight.”

With the victory, Utah State now stands a full game ahead of Boise State, Nevada, and UNLV in the Mountain West standings, positioning themselves to clinch the coveted No. 1 seed at the upcoming conference tournament in Las Vegas.

The Aggies have a big reason to end the deal and end the year successfully against the Lobos.

Heady Aggie Coach Danny Sprinkle seems the hands-on favorite for Mountain West Conference coach of the year.

What he has done, with no players returning from last year’s squad, to achieve this performance is impressive.

Meanwhile, the Lobos enter the matchup fresh off a 79-58 win over Fresno State, propelled by standout performances from Jamal Mashburn Jr., JT Toppin, and Nelly Junior Joseph.

Notably, JT Toppin showcased an impressive performance with 15 points and 16 rebounds, marking his 10th double-double of the season and extending his Lobo freshman record.

The New Mexico men’s basketball team will wrap up its regular season schedule this Saturday night with a visit to face No. 22 Utah State. 

This matchup marks the Lobos’ sixth encounter this season against a ranked opponent, boasting a 3-2 record in such games. T

The last time UNM secured four victories over teams ranked in the AP poll was during the 2012-13 season, finishing with a flawless 4-0 record.

Currently, the Lobos hold a 22-8 record for the season, with a conference standing of 10-7 in the Mountain West, following their recent 79-58 triumph over Fresno State during Senior Night at The Pit. 

Both teams are ready to give their all on the court in a high stakes battle for conference supremacy, with the stage set for Saturday’s showdown between two very good basketball teams. 

 On the Lobos side of the ball, what head coach Richard Pitino has done over the last few years since AD Eddie Nunez hired him has also been very impressive.

When he started as the head coach for the Lobos and got hired, he took the Lobos from being ranked 303 in the NET rankings to currently sitting at 25 in just a few years.

New Mexico fans should note what this staff has done to bring life back to the PIT and the fans.

The Lobos have 22 wins for the season, the first time that has happened since 2013-2014 the first conference-winning season since 2017-218. 

Last week, the PIT was recognized for having the “Top 25 total attendance” and claiming first place in the Mountain West Conference for Total Average Attendance.

They also have a big incentive in this game: They defeated Utah State in Albuquerque 99-86, holding the Aggies’ stars in check that evening.

The Vegas betting folks predicted an 81-77 victory for the Aggies at the PIT that evening. Still, the Lobos dominated the paint and guard play. 

A victory in Logan would help Lobos’s NET Rankings get them out of the NCAA tournament bubble. Still, most forecasters predict them to be around ten seeds, regardless of the outcome.  

The last thing they can afford is a blowout loss, so look for the Lobos to bring their A-game. The Lobo basketball team is a solid road warrior in big venues and really don’t let crowd noise affect them for the most part. 

With Utah State’s lethal perimeter shooting and New Mexico’s formidable inside presence, fans can expect an electrifying clash between two powerhouse programs vying for postseason glory.

In what promises to be a thrilling showdown, basketball fans will be treated to a skill, intensity, and determination showcase as the Aggies and the Lobos square off in a pivotal matchup with championship implications.

For the Aggies, some players to watch: Great Osobor paces the Aggies with 17.5 points per game and 8.9 rebounds, and Darius Brown II tops the Aggies at 6.3 assists per contest while also posting 4.3 rebounds and 12.2 points.

Mason Falslev posts 11.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per contest, shooting 56.6% from the field.

 For Richard Pitino’s Lobos, players to watch: JT Toppin paces the Lobos in rebounding (9.0 per game) and averages 12.5 points and 0.5 assists. He also has 1.1 steals and 2.0 blocked shots.

Toppin is the favorite for the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year. His numbers against very tough opponents are impressive.

 Donovan Dent is Lobos’ top assist man (5.6 per game), posting 14.9 points and 2.7 rebounds. Big man Nelly Junior Joseph gets the Lobos 9.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game.

The Lobos have one of the best guard combinations in the MWC with Jaelen House and Jamal Mashburn, and these two are lethal when they get going in transition.

In the Mountain West Conference, Richard Pitino’s squad stands out as one of the most formidable teams in terms of raw talent on paper.

 Despite showcasing their potential early in the season, they’ve faced setbacks, notably dropping games they were expected to win, such as the disappointing loss to Air Force.

 However, they become an unstoppable force on the court when they focus their efforts, led by the dynamic guard trio of Dent, House, and Mashburn.

Supported by the Lobo Bigs duo of Nelly Jr Joseph and JT Toppin, alongside stellar contributions from bench players like Mustapha Amzil and Tru Washington, the Lobos can defeat any opponent in the MWC.

The Lobos must play a solid offensive and defensive game to pull the upset. You can bet other MWC foes are rooting for the Lobos to win on Saturday. 

Its just that time of year where there are no excuses, you bring your best game to give your team a good chance to win the game and quiet the fans on the road. 

It’s sure to be an exhilarating matchup as the Lobos aim to showcase their full potential against formidable conference rivals.

 

This game marks a rematch from their Jan. 16 encounter at The Pit, where the Lobos pulled off an upset against the No. 16 Aggies with a score of 99-86, snapping Utah State’s seven-game win streak in the series. 

Notably, Nelly Junior Joseph had a standout performance with a season-high 26 points on 11-12 FGs to lead UNM to victory.

Looking ahead, the Lobos aim to achieve a season series sweep with two ranked wins for the first time since 2010-11, when they secured victories against No. 9 BYU at home and No. 3 BYU in Provo on Jimmer Fredette’s senior night. 

Additionally, UNM seeks to end a six-game losing streak in Logan, targeting their first win at the Smith Spectrum since 2016.

Advertisement[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1361]

New Mexico Lobos host Fresno State Bulldogs at the PIT

New Mexico Lobos host Fresno State Bulldogs at the PIT Lobos looking to defend home court Follow @MWCwire New Mexico taking on the Fresno State Bulldogs The New Mexico Lobos (21-8, 9-7 MWC) and the Fresno State Bulldogs (11-18, 4-12 MWC) will face …

New Mexico Lobos host Fresno State Bulldogs at the PIT


Lobos looking to defend home court


Follow @MWCwire

New Mexico taking on the Fresno State Bulldogs

The New Mexico Lobos (21-8, 9-7 MWC) and the Fresno State Bulldogs (11-18, 4-12 MWC) will face off at The Pit in what the oddsmaker predicts to be a lopsided matchup, with heavily favored New Mexico projected to win 83-65.

But this year’s ups and downs in the world of college basketball, especially in the Mountain West Conference, never say never as they say.  =≠=

Head Lobo coach Richard Pitino is aware of losing to Quad four Air Force last week and how his Lobos cannot afford to take any team lightly. 

The New Mexico men’s basketball team is gearing up for an emotional Senior Night showdown as they prepare to close out their home schedule against Fresno State at The Pit on Wednesday night. 

Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 pm, with fans able to catch the action on FS1 and the Lobo Radio Network local radio in Albuquerque.  

In a heartfelt tribute, Senior Night will honor Jemarl Baker, Jr., Jaelen House, Jamal Mashburn, Jr., and Isaac Mushila before the game, recognizing their contributions and dedication to the team. 

Date: Wednesday, March 6, 2024 

Location: The PIT in Albuquerque

Time: 10:30 ET, 8:30 MST

TV: FOX Sports Networks 

STREAM: FuboTV – get a free trial

Radio:  77kob Albuquerque 96.3 FM Robert Portnoy/Hunter Greene

“The one thing about both of those guys, and it can be maddening at times, they pour their heart and soul into it,” Pitino said of House and Mashburn on Tuesday. “And that’s why I have stuck with them many times because they put in the work. They care. … Effort has never been an issue. They show great leadership in a variety of ways. …

“There’s been so many, just amazing, memories. I remember walking in here in year one and the building’s half empty. And now we’re getting to a point where our last crowd is 15,000. And they deserve a lot of that credit.” 

A recurring theme in Coach Pitino’s press conferences is his profound appreciation and respect for his players and the dedication they demonstrate in practice with their hard work ethic.

It’s no surprise that players relish the opportunity to play under his leadership, and many highly talented athletes have chosen to commit to the Lobo program with Pitino at the helm. 

It’s a recipe for success, as it includes the chance to compete in one of the nation’s premier college basketball arenas, the PIT. 

Despite the number of losses this year at the PIT, one can watch other venues in college basketball and its stands alone in its whole atmosphere for college basketball. 

The Lobos, with a season record of 21-8 and a Mountain West standing of 9-7, are determined to bounce back from their recent two-game skid.

Last week’s loss to Boise State in Idaho was the first time all year that the Lobo basketball team had lost more than two in a row. 

JT Toppin’s stellar performance against Boise State earned him his record-tying ninth Mountain West Freshman of the Week award, further highlighting the team’s depth with three players averaging 15.0 points per game.

On the opposing side, Fresno State (11-18 overall, 4-12 Mountain West) looks to regroup after a recent loss to Nevada. 

Spearheaded by Isaiah Hill, who averages 12.6 points and 6.1 assists per game, the Bulldogs aim to put up a strong fight.

This game marks the sole meeting of the season between the two teams. In their last encounter, the Lobos secured a decisive 94-80 victory on Senior Night at The Pit, ending Fresno State’s seven-game win streak in the series. 

With the season’s final home game looming, both teams are gearing up for an unforgettable showdown on the court. 

The Bulldogs are desperate for a victory, while the Lobos strategically position themselves for the Mountain West Conference in La Vegas and the NCAA Tournament.

 Most analysts are forecasting a commanding 83-65 victory in favor of the Lobos; the anticipation for a one-sided affair is palpable.

New Mexico has a record of 16-11-0 against the spread this season, whereas Fresno State stands at 13-14-0.

Regarding surpassing the point total, the Lobos hold a 15-12-0 record, while the Bulldogs boast a 17-10-0 record.

 Over the past ten games, New Mexico has achieved a 4-6 record against the spread and a 5-5 overall record.

 Conversely, Fresno State has managed a 6-4 record against the spread and a 3-7 overall record in its most recent ten matches.

In their recent showdown against Nevada, the Fresno State Bulldogs faced a tough 74-66 defeat, marking their fifth consecutive loss.

Despite a decent shooting performance with a 42.6% field goal percentage and hitting 7 of their 23 three-point attempts, the Bulldogs couldn’t quite rally back.

They converted 13 of 18 free throw attempts, securing a 72.2% success rate from the charity Stripe.

However, they struggled to contain Nevada on the defensive end, allowing them to shoot 53.1% from the field.

Isaiah Hill emerged as a standout performer for Fresno State. In his 40 minutes on the court, he scored 16 points on 5-of-14 shooting and contributed five rebounds and four assists.

With an overall season record of 11-18, the Bulldogs have been grappling with turnovers, averaging 12.6 per game and committing 15.4 fouls per contest.

While they have demonstrated prowess in rebounding, averaging 31.3 boards per game, their offensive efficiency has been lacking, shooting just 33.5% from beyond the arc and 67.1% from the free throw line.

Defensively, Fresno State aims to improve. It forces opponents into turnovers and fouls but struggles to contain its shooting, allowing a field goal percentage of 46.4% and conceding 72.9 points per game.

On the other side of the court, the New Mexico Lobos suffered an 89-79 loss against Boise State in their latest matchup.

 Despite a commendable effort with 24 defensive rebounds and 11 offensive boards, the Lobos fell short.

 J.T. Toppin emerged as a key contributor, scoring 21 points in 27 minutes of play, although he finished the game without recording an assist.

With a season record of 21-8, the Lobos boast a formidable offense, averaging 82.6 points per game and shooting 46.5% from the field. 

However, they have room for improvement defensively. They allow opponents to shoot 43.2% from the field and concede an average of 71.7 points per game.

As both teams gear up for their upcoming matchups, they’ll be looking to address their weaknesses and capitalize on their strengths to secure crucial victories on the court.

Toppin’s outstanding performance against Boise State, highlighted by 21 points, eight rebounds (including four offensive rebounds), three blocks, two steals, and shooting 9-of-12 from the field, earned him not only the Mountain West Freshman of the Week award but also his ninth recognition of the season.

He seems a shoo-in for the Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year award; he has been impressive in every game he has played.

Another candidate for MWC freshman of the year is UNLV’s Freshman Guard. Dedan Thomas Jr. for the Rebels, who was great this year at the guard spot. 

  JT Toppin has looked dominant for Richard Pitino’s Lobos in a very tough MWC, especially if one looks at the great post players; he is getting those rebounds and points. 

New Mexico aims to bolster its credentials for the Big Dance as it prepares to host a struggling Fresno State squad in a pivotal Mountain West Conference showdown.

Guard Jamal Mashburn acknowledged in today’s Lobos presser that this is a must-win game for his team, and they are very focused on coming out on top. 

Fresh off a disappointing two-game losing streak, the Lobos are looking to regain their momentum, sitting precariously on the bubble with a 21-8 record. 

Meanwhile, Fresno State enters this matchup on a five-game skid, desperately seeking a turnaround.

The Bulldogs’ lackluster 11-18 overall record and third-to-last place in the MWC standings, with a 4-12 conference record, indicate that they are facing an uphill battle.

Fresno State faltered in their recent outing against Nevada, unable to mount a comeback after being outscored by 13 points in the first half.

 Despite some standout performances, including Isaac Taveras’ season-high 16 points, the Bulldogs succumbed to a 74-66 defeat.

Fresno State faces significant challenges with key players like Donavan Yap Jr. sidelined due to injury and uncertainty surrounding leading rebounder Enoch Boakye’s availability.

Offensively, Fresno State has struggled to find consistency, averaging just 68.1 points per game while conceding an average of 72.9 points.

 With leading scorers like Isaiah Hill and Xavier DuSell aiming to ignite their offense, the Bulldogs hope to turn the tide.

Both teams understand the importance of securing a crucial victory as the showdown looms.

Expect a fiercely contested battle in the hardwood, with New Mexico aiming to solidify its postseason aspirations and Fresno State desperate for a turnaround.

 Boasting a solid 12-3 record in home games and a commendable 4-2 track record in nail-biting encounters, the Lobos exude confidence heading into this matchup.

Conversely, the Bulldogs have struggled in the Mountain West Conference, mustering only four wins out of sixteen games.

 Despite the valiant effort led by Enoch Boakye, averaging 8.2 rebounds per game, Fresno State has faced an uphill battle this season.

New Mexico holds a significant advantage in terms of offensive prowess, averaging 82.6 points per game compared to Fresno State’s 68.1.

 Defensively, the Lobos also maintained an edge, allowing 71.7 points per game, whereas the Bulldogs allowed 72.9.

As the Lobos and Bulldogs collide for the first time in MWC play this season, all eyes will be on the top performers.

 Donovan Dent, Jaelen House, and Jamal Mashburn lead the charge for New Mexico at the guard spot while JT Toppin, Nelly Jr Joseph lead in the paint. 

The Lobos have maintained a steady performance in their previous ten outings, with a 5-5 record. At the same time, the Bulldogs aim to break free from a five-game losing streak.

As the clock ticks closer to tip-off, anticipation mounts, promising an exhilarating showdown between these two basketball titans. With both teams hungry for victory, the stage is set for a gripping battle at The Pit.

You can bet that the Lobos Seniors Jemarl Baker, Jr., Jaelen House, Jamal Mashburn, Jr. and Isaac Mushila want to go out as winners in the infamous PIT in Albuquerque. 

Prediction: New Mexico 83, Fresno State 65 

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1361]

Wyoming Holds Off Late Air Force Surge on Senior Night

Game Recap: Wyoming 74, Air Force 63 Wyoming Holds Off Late Air Force Surge on Senior Night Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire The Cowboys leaned heavily on their seniors to secure their final home win of the season. As the college basketball …

[mm-video type=playlist id=01fb7dafw2b08817yr player_id=none image=https://mwwire.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]


 Game Recap: Wyoming 74, Air Force 63


Wyoming Holds Off Late Air Force Surge on Senior Night


Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire

The Cowboys leaned heavily on their seniors to secure their final home win of the season.

As the college basketball season is nearing it’s end in most conferences around the country. Fans around the Mountain West still have one more week of the regular season to go before they find their way to Sin City next week to end things the proper way, via net cutting.

Kicking Tuesday night’s action off was senior night in Laramie. With five players celebrating their Cowboy careers, looking for one last win against the visiting Air Force Falcons.

Wyoming came into this one also hoping to end a four game losing streak, which included two losses at home & two more on the road against teams from the top-half of the conference standings. Nothing to bat an eye at given how fierce Mountain West play has really been this season.

Just ask Air Force, who are riding a two game losing streak themselves. Falling by double-digits to league leaders Boise State & Utah State last week. Although the Falcons are likely also grateful they were able to end a seven game losing streak the week before with an upset win at New Mexico.

So to say the conference title would be up for grabs for grabs or a postseason appearance being on the line in Laramie on Tuesday night is far fetched. It didn’t stop either team from giving it everything they had inside the Arena-Auditorium.

Air Force has been known to start things very quickly this season, taking quick leads right out of the gate all season. Their only problem is letting the other team take control & beat them, usually in the second-half. Tuesday night was no different, as the Falcons scored the first six points of the night, thanks to back-to-back three pointers from Beau Becker & Byron Brown.

On the other side of the court, their hosts struggled as well. With Sam Griffin getting things started for the Cowboys with a three pointer of his own after four straight misses for Wyoming after tip-off.

It wouldn’t be that way for long. As senior Kenny Foster started what would become a 7-0 run with a layup in the paint.

A Luke Kearney three-pointer at the top of the arc ended that scoring drought to bring Air Force to within one just under the ten minute mark. After, a Wenzel layup on the other end extended their deficit by three.

Jeffrey Mills would tie things up at 15 a piece with his own three-pointer & not let the play end there by securing a steal off the Wyoming inbound while the rest of his team was already jogging back to play defense. Kearney utilized a turnaround jumper at the top of the key to give the Falcons back the lead at 17-15.

Ethan Taylor was able to put some points on the board with yet another Falcon three-pointer out of the timeout. As the first-half clock continued to wind down without much scoring on either side. Griffin netted his second three-point field goal of the night to put Wyoming back on top before a mass substitution by Jeff Linder. As fans yearned for scoring in the last closing minutes of the first-half, each squad finally answered.

After scoring runs on both sides of the ball, both teams went to their locker rooms after the half-time buzzer with Wyoming up 27-22.

Air Force was able to stay in competitive in the first twenty of minutes of play via their shooting from behind the arc. Which should be a no brainer at this point of the season. Entering half-time with a 5-14 (35.7%) shooting performance, which at times made them look dangerous. While their 8-24 (33.3%) shooting from the floor made them look vulnerable.

Luke Kearney led the Falcons with 7 first-half points off of 3-8 shooting in just eight minutes on the floor.

On the other side it was a cool & calm 14 points from Sam Griffin that led the way for the Cowboys. Including an impressive 3-5 shooting performance from beyond the arc, while the rest of his team shot a bleak 1-7 combined.

Neither team heard much of the whistle blown in the first-half & only made a combined five trips to the charity stripe. Air Force has built a bit of a reputation for hanging around and even leading teams in the first-half before fizzling out in the second.

Sometimes patterns & reputation are to be trusted for what they are. As the Falcons came out swinging, they just didn’t manage to hit anything fresh out of half-time. Wyoming wasn’t really dialed in either. Finding their first four points via the free throw line before they went on an unanswered 14-0 run in the first six minutes out of the break.

Jeffrey Mills finally ended that horrid shooting streak with another Falcon three-pointer. Air Force would proceed to put every previously mentioned notion about their second-half play to bed for the next seven minutes. Outscoring their hosts 21-12 during that time to bring their deficit to single-digits (53-44).

Wyoming grew their lead to double figures once again, capitalizing off of four straight made free throws. Air Force wasn’t out of steam just yet, with back-to-back three-point jumpers from Mills & Kearney in consecutive possessions.

Wenzel attempted to extend the home squad’s lead with an and-one opportunity down low. Which worked, before a couple of Air Force attempts on the other end lead to another Jeffrey Mills three-pointer shrank the deficit to it’s smallest all half to just 60-56.

It didn’t stop there as each side exchanged shots from inside the paint & beyond the arc as they approached the final two minutes of the game. Scoring leaders Brendan Wenzel & Jeffrey Mills continued to exchange buckets before Joe Scott called timeout to end the firefight.

After the timeout freshman Cam Manyawu found himself with the ball in the paint but couldn’t capitalize.

Air Force took possession & ran down to the other end, but made a fatal mistake. After staying in this one thanks to their three-point shooting, they held on to the ball too long & settled for a mid-range jumper. It didn’t go in & Akuel Kot went on to make four straight free throw attempts.

Air Force missed two straight three-pointers during that same time & the night was over. Wyoming escaped with their last home win of the season, holding strong to secure the 74-63 win over Air Force.

The Falcons went home with another loss in conference play, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying. Finding more offensive success in the second-half, shooting 48.1% (13-27) from the floor, 85.7% (6-7) from the free throw line & 40.9% (9-22) from three-point range. It was a great performance, but the home team played just a tad bit better.

The Cowboys were on absolute fire in the second-half; shooting 14-26 (53.8%) from the floor, 4-8 (50%) from deep & a surgical 15-16 (93.8%) from the charity stripe. Mostly thanks to a whopping 19 points from Akuel Kot & 15 points from Brendan Wenzel, two Cowboys playing their last games inside Arena-Auditorium.

Yes, the Cowboys were the favorites heading into this one, but as we’ve seen all season, no one is immune to the upset this year. Jeff Linder’s group stood tall & matched the Falcons’ energy all game & kept the last possible home win of the season at home on senior night.

Player Spotlights

Air Force GJeffrey Mills & Byron Brown

Stat line: Mills-17 points & 3 assists on 6-8 shooting (75%) from the floor & 5-7 (71.4%) from deep in just 24 minutes of action Brown-16 points on 6-13 (46.1%) shooting & 33.3% from deep in just 23 minutes of action

It was time for a co-player spotlight for Air Force. Jeffrey Mills had a very clutch 24 minutes on the floor. Scoring 14 of his team-high 17 points in the second-half & keeping the Cowboys on their toes in the process.

While Brown enjoyed a career high 16 points in just 23 minutes of play time. And in my opinion, helped Mills bring the Falcons to within striking distance with 11 of his points coming after half-time.

Wyoming G-Akuel Kot

Stat line: 19 points, 2 rebounds, & 2 assists on 6-13 shooting (46.1%) from the floor & 6-6 (100%) from the line in 35 minutes of action

The D-II transfer who celebrated his lone season in Laramie on senior night was huge for the Cowboys. Kot was one of three players to score 19+ points against the Falcons. But he scored all 19 of his points in the second-half. Keeping Air Force at bay as their guests brought the lead to within a few possessions late in the game, but Kot was there to get the job done.

Next Up:

Wyoming finishes out their regular season in Fresno on Saturday. The Bulldogs will be fighting for their last win of the regular season with no tangible stakes on the line aside from winning momentum heading to Las Vegas.

Fresno State is looking to end a five game losing streak tomorrow night against New Mexico before they host the Cowboys on Saturday. That game tips off at 5:00 PM MT and can be streamed on the Mountain West Network.

Air Force heads home to finish out their regular season against in-state conference foe Colorado State. The Rams will travel to Colorado Springs for their last game of the regular season after winning the second-leg of their basketball version of the boarder war last Saturday.

That matchup tips off at 2:00 PM MT and can be streamed on the Mountain West Network Saturday March 9th.

Larry Muniz covers college basketball as a writer for Mountain West Wire and WAC Hoops Digest. Also as a co-host of the college basketball podcast “Hoops Talk W/Jay & Larry”. He is also a USWBA Member.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1361]