Donovan Dent, right, and New Mexico won the Mountain West’s regular-season title; the Lobos are the top seed for the MW tournament. Nevada coach Steve Alford, left, will try to lead his team to four wins from the No. 7 spot in this week’s conference tournament in Las Vegas.
Photo by Steve Ranson.
A look at this week's Mountain West men's basketball tournament in Las Vegas:
WHAT: Mountain West men's basketball tournament.
WHERE: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas.
WHO: All 11 Mountain West teams qualify for tournament.
AT STAKE: Tournament champion earns Mountain West's automatic bid to NCAA Tournament.
WEDNESDAY'S GAMES: Game 1: No. 8 San Jose State vs. No. 9 Wyoming, 11 a.m.; Game 2: No. 7 Nevada vs. No. 10 Fresno State, 1:30 p.m.; Game 3: No. 6 UNLV vs. No. 11 Air Force, 4 p.m.
THURSDAY'S GAMES: Game 4: San Jose State-Wyoming winner vs. No. 1 New Mexico, 11 a.m.; Game 5: No. 4 San Diego State vs. No. 5 Boise State, 2:30 p.m.; Game 6: Nevada-Fresno State winner vs. No. 2 Colorado State, 6 p.m.; Game 7: UNLV-Air Force winner vs. No. 3 Utah State, 8:30 p.m.
FRIDAY'S GAMES: Semifinals: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 6:30 p.m.; Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 winner, 9 p.m.
SATURDAY'S GAME: Championship, 3 p.m.
TV/RADIO: All Wolf Pack games will be broadcast on 95.5 FM. Wednesday's games will be streamed on Mountain West Network. Thursday and Friday's games will be televised on CBS Sports Network, with Saturday's championship game on CBS.
TEAM CAPSULES
NO. 1 NEW MEXICO
RECORD: 25-6, 17-3
HEAD COACH: Richard Pitino, 4th season. Pitino in MW tourney: 5-2 (won 2024 championship).
MW TOURNAMENT RECORD: 25-20. Championships: (5) 2024, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2005.
STREAKING: Lobos have won last three games and 11 of last 13.
GAME 1 OPPONENT: San Jose State or Wyoming. Lobos beat Wyoming twice (71-67, 61-53) and were 1-1 against San Jose State (83-77 win, 71-70 loss) this year. New Mexico is 1-0 against San Jose State in MW tourney and 4-1 against Wyoming.
PROBABLE STARTERS: Donovan Dent (20.4 points, 6.5 assists, 2.4 rebounds); Nelly Joseph (13.8, 1,2, 11.1); Mustapha Amzil (11.5, 1.4, 5,4); Tru Washington (11.3, 2.0, 3.9); Filip Borvicanin (6.1, 1.2, 4.6).
LOBOS AS NO. 1 SEED: 2010 (lost in semifinals); 2013 (won championship).
NO. 2 COLORADO STATE
RECORD: 22-9, 16-4
HEAD COACH: Niko Medved, 7th season. Medved in MW tourney: 5-6.
MW TOURNAMENT RECORD: 19-24. Championship (1). 2003.
STREAKING: Rams have won last seven games and 12 of last 14.
GAME 1 OPPONENT: Nevada or Fresno State. Rams beat Nevada (66-64, 79-71) and Fresno State (91-64, 69-64) both twice this season. Rams are 1-1 against Nevada in MW tourney (losing 2017 championship) and 4-1 against Fresno State.
PROBABLE STARTERS: Nique Clifford (18.4 points, 4.4 assists, 9.7 rebounds); Jalen Lake (11.5, 2.0, 2.9); Kyan Evans (10.3, 3.1, 3.0); Jaylen Crocker-Johnson (9.2, 0.8, 4.4); Rashaan Mbemba (7.4, 0.9, 3.6).
RAMS AS NO. 2 SEED: 2013 (lost in semifinals); 2017 (lost in championship); 2022 (lost in semifinals).
NO. 3 UTAH STATE
RECORD: 25-6, 15-5
HEAD COACH: JERROD CALHOUN, 1st season.
MW TOURNAMENT RECORD: 17-9. Championships (2): 2019, 2020.
STREAKING: Aggies won 16 of first 17 games and 22 of first 25 games but have gone just 2-3 in last five.
GAME 1 OPPONENT: UNLV or Air Force. Rams beat Air Force (87-58, 87-47) twice and were 1-1 against UNLV (65-62 loss, 76-71 win) this season. Utah State is 1-0 against both UNLV and Air Force in the MW Tourney.
PROBABLE STARTERS: Ian Martinez (16.9 points, 2.8 assists, 3.4 rebounds); Mason Falslev (14.7, 3.7, 6.1); Deyton Albury (7.6, 1.7, 2.4); Aubin Gateretse (6.6, 0.5, 4.2); Drake Allen (7.5, 4.0, 2.0).
AGGIES AS NO. 3 SEED: 2023 (lost in championship).
NO. 4 SAN DIEGO STATE
RECORD: 21-8, 14-6
HEAD COACH: Brian Dutcher, 8th season. Dutcher in MW tourney: 17-4 (won 2018, 2021, 2023 championship).
MW TOURNAMENT RECORD: 44-18. Championships: (7): 2023, 2021, 2018, 2011, 2010, 2006, 2002.
STREAKING: Aztecs have won 10 of last 13 games.
GAME 1 OPPONENT: Aztecs beat Boise State twice this year (76-68, 64-47) and are 4-1 against Broncos in MW tourney (losing 2022 championship).
PROBABLE STARTERS: Nick Boyd (13.2 points, 4.0 assists, 3.9 rebounds); Miles Byrd (12.8, 2.8, 4.5); B.J. Davis (9.1, 1.2, 3.0); Jared Coleman-Jones (7.3, 1.0, 5.0); Miles Heide (4.2, 0.6, 3.6).
AZTECS AS NO. 4 SEED: 2008 (lost in semifinals); 2009 (lost in championship); 2013 (lost in semifinals); 2019 (lost in championship).
NO. 5 BOISE STATE
RECORD: 22-9, 14-6
HEAD COACH: LEON RICE, 15th season. Rice in MW tourney: 9-12 (won 2022 championship).
MW TOURNAMENT RECORD: 9-12. Championship (1): 2022.
STREAKING: Broncos' five-game winning streak ended on Saturday with 83-73 loss to Colorado State. Broncos have won nine of last 11.
GAME 1 OPPONENT: Broncos lost twice to San Diego State this year (76-68, 64-47) and are 1-4 against Aztecs in MW tourney (winning 2022 championship).
PROBABLE STARTERS: Tyson Degenhart (17.8 points, 1.5 assists, 6.1 rebounds); Andrew Meadow (12.8, 0.6, 4.4); Alvaro Cardenas (12.0, 6.9, 3.4); Javan Buchanan (9.7, 0.6, 3.8); O'Mar Stanley (7.5, 0.7, 4.8).
BRONCOS AS NO. 5 SEED: 2013 (lost first game); 2020 (lost in semifinals).
NO. 6 UNLV
RECORD: 17-14, 11-9
HEAD COACH: Kevin Krueger, 4th season. Krueger in MW tourney: 1-3.
MW TOURNAMENT RECORD: 29-21. Championships (3): 2008, 2007, 2000.
STREAKING: Rebels have won six of last eight games.
GAME 1 OPPONENT: UNLV beat Air Force twice this year (77-58, 77-52) and are 6-0 against Falcons in MW tourney.
PROBABLE STARTERS: Jalen Hill (8.5 points, 1.5 assists, 4.8 rebounds); Jaden Henley (12,2, 1.6, 4.1); Brooklyn Hicks (4.3, 0.9, 2.9); Jeremiah Cherry (10.0, 0.7, 5.3); Jailen Bedford (10.1, 1.2, 4.1) or Julian Rishwain (9.2, 2.1, 3.5).
REBELS AS NO. 6 SEED: First time.
NO. 7 NEVADA
RECORD: 16-15, 8-12
HEAD COACH: Steve Alford, 6th season. Alford in MW Tourney: 9-9 (1-5 at Nevada, 8-4 at New Mexico, won championship in 2012, 2013).
MW TOURNAMENT RECORD: 8-11. Championship (1): 2017.
STREAKING: Wolf Pack has lost three in a row and five of last six.
GAME 1 OPPONENT: Pack beat Fresno State twice this year (77-66 in overtime and 94-69) and are 1-0 against Bulldogs in MW tourney.
PROBABLE STARTERS: Nick Davidson (15.7 points, 2.9 assists, 6.4 rebounds); Kobe Sanders (15.6, 4.3, 3.7); Xavier DuSell (7.9, 0.7, 1.6); Tyler Rolison (7.1, 1.9, 2.8); Brandon Love (4.8, 0.3, 2.8).
WOLF PACK AS NO. 7 SEED: First time.
NO. 8 SAN JOSE STATE
RECORD: 14-18, 7-13
HEAD COACH: Tim Miles, 4th season. Miles in MW tourney: 3-8 (2-5 at Colorado State, 1-3 at San Jose State).
MW TOURNAMENT RECORD: 2-11. Championships: None.
STREAKING: Spartans have lost six of last eight games.
GAME 1 OPPONENT: San Jose State beat Wyoming twice this year (67-58, 82-73) and are 0-2 against Cowboys in MW tourney.
PROBABLE STARTERS: Josh Uduje (16.6 points, 1.5 assists, 4.4 rebounds); Will McClendon (12.0, 2.8, 3.3); Latrell Davis (11.4, 1.7, 3.1); Donavan Yap (9.9, 2.9, 2.5); Robert Vaihola (7.7, 2.0, 7.3) or Sadaidriene Hall (7.5, 1.7, 5.1).
SPARTANS AS NO. 8 SEED: First time.
NO. 9 WYOMING
RECORD: 12-19, 5-15
HEAD COACH: Sundance Wicks, 1st season.
MW TOURNAMENT RECORD: 16-24. Championship (1): 2015.
STREAKING: Cowboys have lost nine of last 10 games.
GAME 1 OPPONENT: Wyoming lost to San Jose State twice this year (67-58, 82-73) and are 2-0 against Spartans in MW tourney.
PROBABLE STARTERS: Obi Agbim (17.8 points, 3.5 assists, 3.3 rebounds); Jordan Nesbitt (8.4, 1.9, 6.8); Cole Henry (6.1, 1.4, 3.7), Dontaie Allen (7.9, 1.0, 3.4); Kobe Newton (7.5, 1.4, 2.0).
COWBOYS AS NO. 9 SEED: First time.
NO. 10 FRESNO STATE
RECORD: 6-25, 2-18
HEAD COACH: Vance Walberg, 1st season.
MW TOURNAMENT RECORD: 9-11. Championship (1): 2016.
STREAKING: Bulldogs have lost 12 of their last 13 games and 18 of last 20.
GAME 1 OPPONENT: Bulldogs lost twice to Wolf Pack (77-66 in overtime, 94-69) and are 0-1 against Nevada in MW tourney.
PROBABLE STARTERS: Alex Crawford 11.6 points, 1.3 assists, 4.2 rebounds); Zaon Collins (12.3, 4.4, 4.1); Brian Amuneke (7.4, 0.4, 2.5); Elijah Price (10.3, 1.0, 8.2); More Seck (3.0, 0.1, 3.3).
BULLDOGS AS NO. 10 SEED: First time.
NO. 11 AIR FORCE
RECORD: 4-27, 1-19
HEAD COACH: Joe Scott, 9th season. Scott in MW tourney: 0-9.
MW TOURNAMENT RECORD: 6-25. Championship: None.
STREAKING: Falcons have lost four in a row and 20 of last 21.
GAME 1 OPPONENT: Air Force lost twice to UNLV (77-58, 77-52) this year and are 0-6 against UNLV in MW tourney.
PROBABLE STARTERS: Ethan Taylor (13.6 points, 3.5 assists, 5.4 rebounds); Luke Kearney (8.9, 0.9, 2.7); Kyle Marshall (7.0, 1.7, 4.1); Jeffrey Mills (5.7, 2.4, 3.2); Wesley Celichowksi (8.7, 1.0, 2.0).
FALCONS AS NO. 11 SEED: 2024 (lost first game).
PACK BASKETBALL
Who: Nevada (16-15) vs. Fresno State (6-25)
When: Wednesday, 1:30 p.m.
Where: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas
TV: MW Network
Radio: 95.5 FM (John Ramey)