Deposit Instantly Using Your Credit Card at Sportsbook.com!
2009 Mountain West Conference Tournament Predictions
The 2009 Mountain West Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament gets underway Wednesday, March 11th and extends through March 14th from the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. You can catch early round action on the Mountain West Sports Network withe the semifinal games on the CBS College Sports Network and the title game on Versus. It has been a good season for the Mountain West, just as it was in football, with five teams in the league earning 21 or more wins and with three schools all earning a share of the regular season conference title with 12-4 league marks (BYU, Utah, New Mexico). Via the tiebreaker, BYU has earned the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament for the second straight year and will look to avenge a loss to UNLV in the 2008 MWC Tournament championship game. I will analyze the favorite and the team with the next best shot at cutting down the nets in this predictions article. Bet the 2009 Mountain West Conference Tournament at Bookmaker.
The Favorite: Brigham Young Cougars
BYU breezed through the early rounds of the 2008 conference tournament only to get crushed by UNLV by 15 points in the championship game. UNLV flat out must have BYU’s number as 2 of its 3 conference losses this season came to the Rebels. If BYU wins its first game of the tournament, it could potentially take on UNLV in the semifinals. I’m sure the Cougars are hoping that San Diego State, who they handled both times this season, will take down the No. 4 seed Runnin’ Rebs so they don’t to see them again this year. BYU won 9 of its last 10 games, including wins over Utah and New Mexico. The Cougars are led by their big three; Lee Cummard, Jonathan Tavernari, and Jimmer Fredette. The trio combines to average 49.2 points per game, which is among the best trios in the country.
Another Team That Can Win: UNLV Runnin’ Rebels
I don’t expect New Mexico to have a great showing in this tournament since it is so much better at home than it is on the road. That means that Utah will likely end up in the title game. UNLV split with Utah this season and will have a great shot against the Utes playing in their own backyard if it can get past BYU in the semis. This tournament is basically a home tournament for the Rebs and that is a big advantage. Also, the Rebels return Wink Adams, who was the MWC Tournament MVP a season ago. He leads the way for UNLV with 13.9 points per game. Tre’Von Willis and Rene Rougeau chip in as well with both averaging better than 11.0 points per game.
2008 Mountain West Conference Tournament Recap:
The UNLV Runnin’ Rebels came away with their third MWC Tournament title last season, winning in dominant fashion over No. 1 seed BYU in the championship game. UNLV received a No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament and defeated Kent State in the first round before losing to eventual champion Kansas.
Make Jimmy Boyd’s Locksmith Sports your one stop shop for all your college basketball betting needs. His live odds pages provide up the minute NCAA basketball lines from the best books in the world and his basketball picks are second to none.
If you liked this article, you may also be interested in:
- 2009 Mountain West Conference Football Predictions
- 2009 Big West Conference Tournament Predictions
- 2009 West Coast Conference Tournament Predictions
- 2009 Big Sky Conference Tournament Predictions
- 2009 Big 12 Conference Tournament Predictions
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Comments
2 Responses to “2009 Mountain West Conference Tournament Predictions”
Got something to say?
do you think SDSU has a shot at upsetting any teams this MWC tourney?
and what are your opinions and predictions on the small schools like north dakota state and their potential progress in the DANCE this year?
and final question, who are your likely picks for the Final 4?
The Aztecs finished just a game off the leaders in conference play so there is no doubt that they could make some noise, but they get a very difficult first round draw with UNLV in what is essentially a home game for the Rebs. As far as your Big Dance questions, it’s tough to answer before I see the seeding. Siena is the probably the best bet out of the unranked smaller schools to make a shot at the Sweet 16. North Carolina looks like the best team in the country right now and you have to like what Pitt is doing in terms of making final four runs. But again, must see the seeding before really breaking this down.