Mountain West Conference tourney Wyoming v. San Diego St.

[Young Drachma]

Ok...so...

Wyoming is under .500 and so, you might write them off. But they're a talented group of kids who are erratic and their coach is a dolt and we can't wait until he's fired.

Anyway, they upset Air Force and if they beat Utah, I think they can beat San Diego State, because they're playing in Denver and so..the games are essentially home games.

Brandon Ewing (A true freshman from Chicago, who is MWC all-time leading freshman scorer...breaking Andrew Bogut's record) and Justin Williams (who is the only player in the country in the top 10 in blocks and rebounds) are the players that are worthwhile. Steve Leven is the Australian shooter who can't shoot.

[GoldenEagle]

Denver is in Wyoming?

[Young Drachma]

No, but the University of Wyoming is in Laramie. Laramie is about 2 hours from Denver.

[Young Drachma]

Hmm...they're up 46-38 in the 2nd half, with about 6 minutes to go. We're used to them melting down, especially if they have leads...though they're playing decidedly better than they have and Utah is helping by playing downright awful.

Justin Williams is 1 points from a triple-double, which would be only the 2nd ever in the conference tournament..which obviously hasn't been around that long.

It'd be cool to see him be the soul and lead this team to the tourney..even if it means they end up in the opening round game.

[Young Drachma]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[Young Drachma]

Considering San Diego State is in whether they win or lose, tomorrow night will be interesting.

[Mr. Sparkle]

Considering San Diego State is in whether they win or lose, tomorrow night will be interesting.

You really think SDSU is in regardless of tomorrow? Their out of conference schedule was putrid. I think the Mountain West is a one bid league, whomever wins tomorrow is going to be the only representative in the tourney IMO.

[Young Drachma]

You really think SDSU is in regardless of tomorrow? Their out of conference schedule was putrid. I think the Mountain West is a one bid league, whomever wins tomorrow is going to be the only representative in the tourney IMO.

According to all the bracketology sites, they say MWC is a one-bid league unless SDSU loses. Wyoming is under .500, there is no way the MWC is a one-bid league if the #1 team in the regular season loses in the conference final.

SDSU's RPI is in the 60s and the committee won't take 5 teams from the Missouri Valley or three teams from one of those other leagues and leave the Mountain West, a conference that in a good year isn't nearly as bad as it's been this year out with only 1 bid. Not that I think all those rumoured mid-majors will get in..but..I dunno.

UNLV almost beat San Diego State tonight, so you have to wonder about Steve Fisher and what his mindset will be about his team and all that.

Especially now that they own the NIT, they're not going to be as shy about letting teams that they know will go into the NCAAs and lose after one game, go into the NIT and win it, making them look bad.

[Young Drachma]

San Diego State [20-8 (14-3), RPI: 59, SOS: 124] Cruised in the MWC quarters, which was important, as the committee now doesn't have a huge reason to try to omit the Aztecs. SDSU is the outright regular-season champ -- and that annually means a bid. The overall profile is soft, but the team is healthy and whole now -- could be a tough out in Round 1.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/bubblewatch?id=33

[Young Drachma]

If Wyoming plays like it did against Air Force (22 of 23 from the line...that's nuts, especially consider how BAD this team is on the line) or can manage to get a lead early and keep it like they did tonight, they will beat SDSU. They beat had them beat here at home and it took a freak of nature scenario for them to lose.

Funny thing is, they've lost about 6 games this year that way.

[Mr. Sparkle]

Yeah, I hadn't looked too in depth at them in a week or two, now I can see them getting in even if they lose. Having gone there for two years from '02 to '04, it's strange to see them actually having success. I remember they had a super talented frosh, Evan Burns, who I think was supposed to go to UCLA, but didn't get in due to grades...then he flunked out of SDSU (which is really saying something). Heath and Slaughter are studs, but the team as a whole have a propensity for blowing games when they count, so Wyoming definately has a shot in my eyes.

[Young Drachma]

Funny you should say that. When they came here and we lost to them in OT by 1, we said "boy, they play like we do. Blowing the game when it counts." In the end, the refs usually have it in for us no matter the sport and at home, we bit the big one.

But watching those kids tonight, all the ones who have struggled all season to get something going seemed to thrive..well, except Steve Leven, but apparently he played well on defense. But Williams had a triple-double and I think his motivation is showing NBA scouts he's worth a late 1st round pick (he's slotted to go in the 2nd round right now...from most sites I've read) and Brandon Ewing, the frosh PG has a lot of potential and was recruited by better schools (he's from Chicago), but he came here because I think he wanted to play right out of the gate.

San Diego State beat them a few weeks ago in San Diego, but..Utah beat us last week too in the last regular season game, swept the regular season series and well..that meant nothing tonight.

So, finally we have a reason to watch them. Ironically, our women's team lost in an upset to TCU in the MWC Quarters, but still looked poised to make the NCAAs for the first time EVER. So...it'd be cool to see the guys get in too.

But in a way, I hope maybe they don't, because if they make the tourney, maybe people will want McClain to stay and trust me, he HAS to go.

[Mr. Sparkle]

I haven't been paying much attention this year, but I think Slaughter is going to declare for the draft this year. I think he was considering it last year, but can't remember for sure. At any rate, should be a good game regardless.

[miami_fan]

56-56 Wyoming and SDSU heading to OT. Marcus Slaugher has fouled out

[GoldenEagle]

Wyoming is getting screwed.

[Young Drachma]

Dude, every game...that ALWAYS happens to us.

[Young Drachma]

The MWC refs seriously have had in for us. I've never seen a team..even at home games, where we don't get calls. And sure enough, we never do. That foul on Ewing wasn't just blatant, it was criminal and yet..no call.

Why? The refs seem to hate us. We don't know why.

I was watching at a friends, so I couldn't comment at first. But I will now.

[Mr. Sparkle]

I missed most of the game but did catch the tail end of overtime and yeah, there definately should have been a foul called there. I'm glad SDSU won, but wish it wouldn't have ended on a blatant no-call like that.

[Young Drachma]

Ok.

So Steve Leven is HORRIBLE. Like, he's the worst kid that's supposed to be a shooter that NEVER shoots. He's not clutch, he's not even routine. He's absolutely vile and well...you got to see what we got a whole season of tonight..in one game.

Brandon Ewing is the leader of that team, despite being a freshman and Justin Williams, despite being a talented shot blocker, really could've helped his stock by putting the team on his back tonight. But he didn't, he just did what he was supposed to.

The problem with our team isn't just that it's young, it's young, poorly coached and lacks shooters. That makes its really hard to win and yet, these kids manage to keep games close by just playing their hearts out.

Brad Jones REALLY stepped up in this tournament, because during the season he was mistake-prone.

I dunno that we have any good recruits coming in next year. So far, all we have are two kids -- one is from Wyoming and his team has never won a game in the state tourney -- so...I hope maybe the TV exposure has a kid someplace thinking that he could be the missing link for us.

Because next year, without Williams we're gonna be in a world of hurt and since we lack shooters anyway...I dunno, it might be even harder to watch us.

I'm proud of them for showing up there at all, because they could've rolled over. But in a way, the loss is a good thing because Steve McClain HAS to be fired. He's an awful coach and we're so sick of watching him.

[theclassic]

Dark Cloud,

Where in Wyoming are you located. I was a UW student a few years ago. I was more into football, but went to a few basketball games.

[Young Drachma]

I go to UW, so I live in Laramie.

I lived in Sheridan last year and was going to go back to Illinois, to the college I went to (Monmouth in Illinois) school I went to for two years after my enlistment in the Air Force ended.

But I ended up getting residency here and UW is dirt cheap for residents and so..here I am.

I graduate in December.

[theclassic]

Congrats Dark Cloud on your graduation.

I came back to Wisconsin after my freshman year just because it was cheaper. Residency tuition at UW is even cheaper than community school tuition here in Wisconsin. When I first went to UW tuition was even cheap for an out-state student. They gave me a scholarship just because I was from Wisconsin even. I had a wonderful financial aid job with the equipment manager.

If someday I can find a job in Wyoming I'll probably move back. I love the scenery and the overall laid back atmosphere. I had a friend from Chicago who went to UW and we use to joke just how laid back it was. It wasn't a bad thing though. Believe it or not the weather is better than what I was use to as well. I think it rains everyday in the spring in Wisconsin.