2024 Mountain West Conference Tournament Preview & Conference Awards

CBB Review prepares you for every conference tournament leading up to Selection Sunday on Mar. 17. Up next: The Mountain West Conference Tournament.

Kinda hard to consider the Mountain West a mid-major this year.

The conference has been a seven-team race all season, establishing the MW as one of the most competitive conferences in the nation. Most bracketologists predict the Mountain West to have at least five at-large bids, some have the conference sending six representatives. 

The point is this: The Mountain West Conference Tournament is going to be one helluva show.

2024 Mountain West Conference Awards

Player of the Year: Great Osobor, Utah State

Freshman of the Year: JT Toppin, New Mexico

Transfer of the Year: Great Osobor, Utah State

Coach of the Year: Danny Sprinkle, Utah State

First Team:

• G: Isaiah Stevens, Colorado State (16.8 PPG, 7.0 APG, 3.2 RPG, 1.3 SPG, 45.7 3P%)
• G: Jarod Lucas, Nevada (17.8 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 1.5 APG, 42.2 FG%, 40.1 3P%)
• F: Tyson Degenhart, Boise State (16.8 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.1 SPG, 51.9 FG%)
• F: Jaedon LeDee, San Diego State (20.5 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.2 SPG, 55.7 FG%, 38.9 3P%)
• F: Great Osobor, Utah State (17.6 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.5 BPG, 1.3 SPG, 57.2 FG%)

Second Team: 

• G: Darius Brown II, Utah State (12.4 PPG, 6.4 APG, 4.4 RPG, 40.4 3P%)
• G: MJ Amey Jr., San Jose State (15.7 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 3.1 APG, 37.2 3P%, 1.6 SPG)
• G: Kenan Blackshear, Nevada (15.1 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.4 SPG)
• F: JT Toppin, New Mexico (12.6 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 0.5 APG, 63.2 FG%, 1.9 BPG, 1.1 SPG)
• F: Donovan Dent, New Mexico (15.0 PPG, 5.5 APG, 2.7 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 35.9 3P%)

Mountain West Conference Tournament Simulation

*All times in EST

First Round – Wed., Mar. 13

8. Wyoming vs. 9. Fresno State – 2 p.m. on MWN

It’s been a disappointing season for Wyoming. Sam Griffin has been great, but the Cowboys have failed to put it together in conference play. 

The one thing they have going for them in this matchup: They have beaten Fresno State in both of the first two meetings, and the last one wasn’t pretty. They will make it three.

TJ’s pick: Wyoming

7. Colorado State vs. 10. San Jose State – 4:30 p.m. on MWN

After starting the season a scorching 13-1, Isaiah Stevens and the Rams come into their first tournament game with something to prove. The second half of their season has been much different from their first, and that’s saying something for a 9-loss team. 

Slipping to the 7-seed and missing out on a bye should sting, meaning San Jose State will be on the wrong end of a “letting-out-frustration” game. As long as the Rams can stop San Jose’s MJ Amey Jr., they should cruise into the second round.

TJ’s pick: Colorado State

6. New Mexico vs. 11. Air Force – 7 p.m. on MWN

The Lobos were a big story towards the beginning of conference play, taking down ranked SDSU and Utah State in back-to-back games en route to five straight wins. JT Toppin has made the most of his freshman campaign, nearly averaging a double-double and contributing on both ends of the floor. 

Air Force’s Rytis Petraitis will have his hands full. The Lobos are contenders.

TJ’s pick: New Mexico

Quarterfinals – Thur., Mar. 14

1. Utah State vs. 8. Wyoming – 3 p.m. on CBSSN

Utah State’s dynamic duo in Great Osobor and Darius Brown II have led the way to the conference’s best record and a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Before their seed is announced on Sunday, they have to make a run in their own conference tournament, starting with a defeat of Wyoming. The conference’s clear-cut second best player in Osobor and Coach of the Year in Danny Sprinkle will have no problem in this one.

TJ’s pick: Utah State

4. UNLV vs. 5. San Diego State – 5:30 p.m. on CBSSN

The reigning national championship runner-up vs. the conference tournament host, and hottest team in the conference as of late. Yeah, this will be a good one.

San Diego State has metrics on their side, as they had the toughest non-conference schedule in the conference this year. The two teams split the season series, the second meeting being a UNLV win just days ago. The stars are aligning for the Rebels. Will they make a run in front of the home crowd? The answer is… no.

TJ’s pick: San Diego State

2. Nevada vs. 7. Colorado State – 9 p.m. on CBSSN

Let me get personal with you all: I’ve been involved in many debates on social media regarding Nevada, and I have absolutely no idea why they get the disrespect that they do.

The resume for Nevada: double-digit wins over Utah State, Boise State, Colorado State, and TCU. A season-sweep over Colorado State. SIX LOSSES. In fact, the only team in the conference they haven’t beaten is New Mexico, and the second meeting showed a ton of improvement. There is no team in the conference that wants to play Nevada, and they are about to make a run.

TJ’s pick: Nevada

3. Boise State vs. 6. New Mexico – 11:30 p.m. on CBSSN

Boise State is led by standout Tyson Degenhart, one of the conference’s top scorers. The Broncos defeated the Lobos in both meetings, the second meeting by ten points. 

These teams are incredibly evenly-matched. Great guard play, a dominant force in the post, and stifling defense. But Boise is far more consistent offensively, which will be an issue. As much as I want to pick this upset, there is nothing to justify it.

Unless, of course, JT Toppin and the UNM backcourt have a big night. It would be a great time to get back on track, wouldn’t it?

TJ’s pick: New Mexico

Semifinals – Fri., Mar. 15

1. Utah State vs. 5. San Diego State – 9:30 p.m. on CBSSN

LeDee v. Osobor will be an offensive onslaught.

The conference’s best post player in Osobor and the conference’s best wing in LeDee. It’s clearly the two best players in the conference going head-to-head, though you could make a case for either being the top player. San Diego State will smell blood in the water, being in a position to win their second-straight MW Championship. Utah State is in a similar position, as the Aggies were the ones who lost in the finals last year.

One-possession game. Give me the Aztecs.

TJ’s pick: San Diego State

2. Nevada vs. 6. New Mexico – Midnight on CBSSN

Speaking of “Nevada hasn’t beaten New Mexico”…

New Mexico swept Nevada this season but don’t let the Wolfpack fool you. 

It was an atrocious first game for Nevada, with not a single player cracking double-digits. Since then, Nevada is 10-1. That one loss: Also to New Mexico, but this time by a single point. The Lobos have more production off the bench, meaning Nevada needs to get the most out of their starters.

The difference in this one: New Mexico, by this point, will have played three games in three days. Nevada, on an upward trend, will finally down the Lobos and complete their “conference checklist.”

TJ’s pick: Nevada

Championship – Sat., Mar. 16

2. Nevada vs. 5. San Diego State – 6 p.m. on CBS

Vol. 3 of the two teams’ season series occurs in the championship. Let’s take a look at the first two meetings: 

Jan. 17: The Aztecs dominated the glass 44-25, but that alone isn’t why they crushed Nevada. Nearly half (20) of SDSU’s rebounds were offensive, leading to 18 second-chance points. The Aztecs were also effective in transition, adding another 15 points off the fast break and another 19 points on Nevada’s 14 turnovers. Not a pretty game for Nevada, SDSU took care of business, 71-59.

Feb. 9: Much better on the glass for the Wolfpack, 34-32 in their favor. As a result, this game was a lot closer. It took overtime for Nevada to knock off the Aztecs, 70-66. 

It really does come down to the rebound battle for Nevada. They have a more well-rounded roster, SDSU’s success is mainly reliant on LeDee. The drastic change in rebounding emphasis is shown from the first game to the second, meaning that head coach Steve Alford recognizes this. Look for a well-spread rebounding effort from the Wolfpack backcourt, and about 15 points each from Blackshear, Lucas, and Nick Davidson.

Nevada will punch their ticket on Saturday.

TJ’s pick: Nevada