NCAA Conference Tournament Preview VI

Western Athletic

Team to beat: Nevada — Mark Fox's top three players can match up with just about anyone in the country. Nick Fazekas is a potential first-team All-American, and Marcelus Kemp and Ramon Sessions are both worthy of first-team all-league honors.
Sleeper: Utah State — Stew Morrill's team goes in as the No. 4 seed, but Utah State boasts the second-best player in the conference in Jaycee Carroll. and Stew Morrill has been a winner wherever he has coached.
Prediction: Nevada — While there are some quality teams in the conference (New Mexico State, Fresno and Utah State), the Wolf Pack are clearly the cream of the crop. WHile I am picking Nevada... I wouldnt be at all surprised to see New Mexico State (since it is on their home venue floor) or Utah State win this tournament

Tournament Schedule (all times MST)
at Las Cruces, N.M. (Pan American Center)
Tuesday, March 6 — First round
Game 1: No. 8 San Jose State vs. No. 9 Idaho, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, March 8 — Quarterfinals
Game 2: No. 1 Nevada vs. Game 1 winner, noon
Game 3: No. 4 Utah State vs. No. 5 Hawaii, 2:30 p.m.
Game 4: No. 3 Fresno State vs. No. 6 Boise State, 6 p.m.
Game 5: No. 2 New Mexico State vs. No. 7 Louisiana Tech, 8:30 p.m.

Friday, March 9 — Semifinals
Game 6: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner, 6 p.m.
Game 7: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 10 — Championship
Game 8: Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 winner, 7 p.m.

Geek's all-conference picks
Player of the Year: Nick Fazekas, 6-11, 240, F, Sr., Nevada
Rookie of the Year: Anthony Thomas, 6-0, 200, G, Fr., Boise State
Coach of the Year: Mark Fox, Nevada

All-WAC team
Nick Fazekas, 6-11, 240, F, Sr., Nevada — 20.9 ppg, 11.3 rpg
Marcelus Kemp, 6-5, 210, G, Jr., Nevada — 18.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg
Jaycee Carroll, 6-2, 175, G, Jr., Utah State — 21 ppg, 6.2 rpg
Coby Karl, 6-4, 205, G, Sr., Boise State — 14.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 4.1 apg
Justin Hawkins, 6-5, 220, F, Jr., New Mexico State — 15.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg

Mountain West

Team to beat: BYU — While BYU is the top seed, this is probably the most wide-open of all the conference tournaments. BYU, UNLV, San Diego State and Air Force — the top four seeds — all have a realistic shot to win it.
Sleeper: Colorado State — The Rams have one of the league's best frontline players in Jason Smith. Dale Layer needs his team to do something or else his job is in jeopardy. Sometimes this helps, sometimes, it doesnt. If they win first game, they can be dangerous.
Prediction: Nevada-Las Vegas. Nothing says winning more than home courts. The MWC will be played at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas. So with everything else equal (talent coaching, and records) The only difference is home court.

Tournament Schedule
at Las Vegas (Thomas and Mack Center) (all times MST)

Tuesday, March 6 — First round
Game 1: No. 8 TCU vs. No. 9 New Mexico, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, March 8 — Quarterfinals
Game 2: No. 1 BYU vs. Game 1 winner, noon
Game 3: No. 4 Air Force vs. No. 5 Wyoming, 2:30 p.m.
Game 4: No. 2 UNLV vs. No. 7 Utah, 6 p.m.
Game 5: No. 3 San Diego State vs. No. 6 Colorado State, 8:30 p.m.

Friday, March 9 — Semifinals
Game 6: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner, 6 p.m.
Game 7: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 10 — Championship
Game 8: Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 winner, 4 p.m.

Geek's all-conference picks
Player of the Year: Keena Young, 6-6, 215, F, Sr., BYU
Rookie of the Year: Jonathan Tavernari, 6-6, 215, G/F, Fr., BYU
Coach of the Year: Dave Rose, BYU

All-Mountain West team
Keena Young, 6-6, 215, F, Sr., BYU — 17.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg
Jason Smith, 7-0, 240, F, Jr., Colorado State — 17 ppg, 10 rpg
Brandon Heath, 6-4, 200, G, Sr., San Diego State — 19.2 ppg, 4 rpg, 3.6 apg
Jacob Burtschi, 6-6, 225, F, Sr., Air Force — 13.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg
Wendell White, 6-5, 205, F, Sr., UNLV — 14.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg

Big West

Team to beat: Long Beach State — The 49ers have a veteran three-guard lineup that includes Player of the Year Aaron Nixon, Kejuan Johnson and Kevin Houston. Long Beach was 12-2 in league play and won its first regular-season league crown since 1996.

Sleeper: UCSB — The Gauchos boast Alex Harris, one of the top guards in the conference. Santa Barbara is the No. 4 seed and finished 9-5 in conference play.

Prediction: Long Beach State. In March, the guards rule. The three guard offense ran off 12 victories in 14 league games. The two losses were combined 11 points. That is almost complete domination. The other 7 havent figured it out yet either.
Schedule

at Anaheim, CA (Anaheim Convention Center)
Wednesday, March 7 — First round
Game 1: No. 5 UC-Irvine vs. No. 8 UC-Riverside, 6 p.m. PT
Game 2: No. 6 Cal State Northridge vs. No. 7 Pacific, 8:30 p.m.

Thursday, March 8 — Quarterfinals
Game 3: No. 3 Cal State Fullerton vs. lowest remaining seed, 6 p.m.
Game 4: No. 4 UC Santa Barbara vs. highest remaining seed, 8:30 p.m.

Friday, March 9 — Semifinals
Game 5: No. 1 Long Beach State vs. lowest remaining seed, 6:30 p.m.
Game 6: No. 2 Cal Poly vs. highest remaining seed, 9 p.m.

Saturday, March 10 — Championship
Game 7: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 8 p.m.

Geek's all-conference picks
Player of the Year: Aaron Nixon, 6-2, 220, G, Sr., Long Beach State
Rookie of the Year: Henrik Thomsen, 6-8, 200, G/F, Fr., UC Riverside
Coach of the Year: Larry Reynolds, Long Beach State

All-Big West team
Aaron Nixon, 6-2, 220, G, Sr., Long Beach State — 18.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.1 apg
Bobby Brown, 6-2, 175, G, Sr., Cal State Fullerton — 20.2 ppg, 5.2 apg
Alex Harris, 6-6, 185, G, Jr., UCSB — 21 ppg, 4.8 rpg
Kejuan Johnson, 6-4, 195, G, Sr., Long Beach State — 15.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.6 apg
Derek Stockalper, 6-5, 220, G/F, Sr., Cal Poly — 14.5 ppg, 6.7 rpg