Conference has lost four straight in the Big Dance and is 1-7 in the opening round since 2016
The question to Colorado State coach Niko Medved was about the Mountain West’s dismal record in the NCAA Tournament — 1-7 in the opening round since 2016, 5-25 against power conferences since 2007, no appearances in the Elite Eight or beyond.It’s the elephant in the locker room for the Mountain West as four teams play in the NCAA Tournament this week, the most since a record five did in 2013.
Getting people to stay up late to watch your games , though, might require garnering respect in the only thing that really matters in college basketball, something the Mountain West has not done recently or, well, ever. “It’s one of the top six leagues in the country night in and night out,” said Wyoming coach Jeff Linder, who has spent eight years in the Mountain West as an assistant or head coach. “And not just from a talent standpoint, but it’s such a smart league. I mean, teams don’t make mistakes. You have to go beat them.
The only two nonconference Q1 wins are both in December against Saint Mary’s — 63-53 by SDSU on a neutral floor and 74-58 by Colorado State at 5,000 feet in Fort Collins. Boise State’s best nonconference win was against Washington State . Wyoming’s was at Grand Canyon . Yet, SDSU, Boise State and COlorado State all rank in the top 40 of most major metrics.Las Vegas oddsmakers aren’t convinced, installing three of the four Mountain West teams as underdogs despite none of them facing better seeds.
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