MWC Tourney seeding concerns?

[CowboyNV]

There's a reason why Vegas is so low in the conference standings. They're not a good basketball team. They lost Vaughn for the year and are down to seven scholarship players. The guys they have left aren't the smartest players in the world, they lack discipline, and most of them prefer to shoot before they pass.

I don't fear UNLV this year, although they're a much better team at home.

UNLV is 9-3 at the T&M this year with losses to UNM, Nevada, and BSU. While not an easy out by any means, I do think this year they are vulnerable at home. In their 9 wins at home, they beat Morehead St. by 1, Sam Houston St. by 2, Portland by 2, and Utah St. by 2. All of those wins were with Vaughn. Without Vaughn, the Pokes have a very good chance of beating them when they play them later this month.

 

[seattlecowboy]

I agree with you guys about UNLV but a couple of things.

1. Vaughn may be back for the tournament but of course he probably won't be 100%.

2. If we have to play UNLV it will be for the 2nd time in 2 weeks. So even though they are down in the standings it will be tough to beat them twice in 2 weeks on their home court. I think we can do it but they aren't the first team I would want to play.

 

[fromolwyoming]

In our game against them, it wasn't Vaughn that kept them in the game, it was Wood nailing one 3 after another, covered or not. Need to defend the 3 against them to have a chance at winning.

 

[kansasCowboy]

I agree with you guys about UNLV but a couple of things.

1. Vaughn may be back for the tournament but of course he probably won't be 100%.

2. If we have to play UNLV it will be for the 2nd time in 2 weeks. So even though they are down in the standings it will be tough to beat them twice in 2 weeks on their home court. I think we can do it but they aren't the first team I would want to play.

"Now, now. It's not their home court during the conference tourney! You should know better. It's a neutral court brought into their home arena..." :roll:

... Says every UNLV fan! Of course that's fair...
Seriously, I don't mind the tourney being in Vegas, but use a neutral court and arena! There are plenty to choose from.

 

[seattlecowboy]

I agree with you guys about UNLV but a couple of things.

1. Vaughn may be back for the tournament but of course he probably won't be 100%.

2. If we have to play UNLV it will be for the 2nd time in 2 weeks. So even though they are down in the standings it will be tough to beat them twice in 2 weeks on their home court. I think we can do it but they aren't the first team I would want to play.

"Now, now. It's not their home court during the conference tourney! You should know better. It's a neutral court brought into their home arena..." :roll:

... Says every UNLV fan! Of course that's fair...
Seriously, I don't mind the tourney being in Vegas, but use a neutral court and arena! There are plenty to choose from.

Yeah lol..... Honestly I don't mind it in Vegas either, I actually like it there the best.

I know they change the court and lots of other teams fans are there so it isn't quite the same deal so it doesn't really bother me.

 

[CowboyNV]

Maybe they will move future MWC tourneys to the new AEG arena (should be open in 2016 and will seat 19,000 for basketball) or the 22,000 seat arena that Jackie Robinson is pushing (supposed to be completed by 2017). With the addition of these two venues, the MWC could certainly move the event from the T&M, and take away the home court advantage that UNLV has enjoyed over the years during the tourney. Even the playing field so to speak.

 

[wyopig]

If SDSU has to face UNLV in their first game, it'll also be twice in a week that they will have played in Vegas. We have to really root for this to happen.

 

[SnowyRange]

It used to drive Steve Alford nuts that the MW had the tournament in Vegas -- because of the perceived UNLV advantage -- but the coaches now have pretty much shut up about it, and the ADs have come around to seeing what Vegas does for the tourney.

I think that's an excellent decision. I remember the years they had it in Denver. It was dismal in comparison...not the Pepsi Center, but how little fun you can have surrounding the games, how little buzz there was around the whole thing.

 

[LanderPoke]

It used to drive Steve Alford nuts that the MW had the tournament in Vegas -- because of the perceived UNLV advantage -- but the coaches now have pretty much shut up about it, and the ADs have come around to seeing what Vegas does for the tourney.

I think that's an excellent decision. I remember the years they had it in Denver. It was dismal in comparison...not the Pepsi Center, but how little fun you can have surrounding the games, how little buzz there was around the whole thing.

One of the years it was in Denver we made the championship game with not that great of a team. I would like to have it in Denver every year Plus I would actually be able to go

 

[CowboyNV]

It used to drive Steve Alford nuts that the MW had the tournament in Vegas -- because of the perceived UNLV advantage -- but the coaches now have pretty much shut up about it, and the ADs have come around to seeing what Vegas does for the tourney.

Don't get me wrong, I like the tourney in Vegas, I just think the MWC would be better served to have it on a "neutral court." Since there is no shortage of great arenas in Vegas, and two new ones will be added in the next two years, I would rather see it moved from the T&M to another venue to at least remove UNLV's perceived advantages. :twocents:

 

[bladerunnr]

It used to drive Steve Alford nuts that the MW had the tournament in Vegas -- because of the perceived UNLV advantage -- but the coaches now have pretty much shut up about it, and the ADs have come around to seeing what Vegas does for the tourney.

I think that's an excellent decision. I remember the years they had it in Denver. It was dismal in comparison...not the Pepsi Center, but how little fun you can have surrounding the games, how little buzz there was around the whole thing.

One of the years it was in Denver we made the championship game with not that great of a team. I would like to have it in Denver every year Plus I would actually be able to go

We didn't have a great team, record wise. But that team had Ewing, Jones, Steve Levin, and Justin Williams. McClain got them to come together at just the right time. If I remember right, he was on the hot seat and making the finals saved his job. I miss having it at the pepsi center. We have only made it out of the quarterfinals 1 time since it's been in Vegas. So I would hope we can at least make the semis this year.

 

[SnowyRange]

Don't get me wrong, I like the tourney in Vegas, I just think the MWC would be better served to have it on a "neutral court." Since there is no shortage of great arenas in Vegas, and two new ones will be added in the next two years, I would rather see it moved from the T&M to another venue to at least remove UNLV's perceived advantages.

Oh, I totally agree.

There are, or will be, other basketball venues there that would work just fine. But Vegas just can't be beat: it's the cheapest place in the west to travel to for MW fans, on average; you have unlimited and relatively cheap accommodation choices: unlimited food and drink choices from high end to low end; gambling and shows; everything centrally located...and people want to go there for the tourney because they know if their team washes out they're still going to have fun.

My ode to Vegas.

 

[calpoke25]

It used to drive Steve Alford nuts that the MW had the tournament in Vegas -- because of the perceived UNLV advantage -- but the coaches now have pretty much shut up about it, and the ADs have come around to seeing what Vegas does for the tourney.

Don't get me wrong, I like the tourney in Vegas, I just think the MWC would be better served to have it on a "neutral court." Since there is no shortage of great arenas in Vegas, and two new ones will be added in the next two years, I would rather see it moved from the T&M to another venue to at least remove UNLV's perceived advantages. :twocents:

Right or wrong, I bet the MW tournament is a cash cow for the conference. It sells out every year. I'm no expert on the finances of it all, but I imagine moving the tournament to another arena could significantly reduce the profit the league makes on it. I think the small advantage UNLV may enjoy having it on their home ocurt is offset greatly by the fact they can bring an arena on the level of the T and M probably rent-free to the conference for such an event in Las Vegas.

 

[GoPokes86]

I think it would be awesome to switch with the Pac-12 and have them play at Thomas and Mack, then we could play at the MGM.

 

[stymeman]

I'll love our seed to stay right at 2, these last 4 are all winable games for us.

 

[McPeachy]

I think it would be awesome to switch with the Pac-12 and have them play at Thomas and Mack, then we could play at the MGM.

I wouldn't necessarily mind it, but the T&M is 10x the facility the MGM is for watching basketball. There really is no comparing the two...the T&M is far far superior.

Now with the MGM building the new 22k seat arena behind the Monte Carlo / NYNY - that would be sweet (if done right - which I am sure it will be as they are trying for an NHL / NBA franchise there).