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2020 Mountain West Men’s Basketball Tournament Basics

Dates

Wednesday, March 4th (first round); Thursday, March 5th (quarterfinals); Friday, March 6th (semifinals); Saturday, March 7th (championship)

This is a week earlier than usual this year because of the CONEXPO-CON/AGG International Construction Trade Show, which ends on Selection Eve, March 14th. The Mountain West will return to a Selection Eve final in 2021, timing that’s guaranteed in the conference’s new media rights contract with CBS.

Format

Traditional bracket

Site(s)

As usual, the Thomas & Mack Center, home of UNLV , hosts the event, though on a different floor than the one the Runnin’ Rebels normally use.

TV/Streaming Info

CBS has the final on late Saturday afternoon Pacific time. CBSSN airs the quarterfinals and semifinals, while the Mountain West Network streams Wednesday’s opening round.

Participants

All 11 teams will make the trip to Las Vegas.

Downloadable Bracket

Schedule

First Round (Wed., March 4)

MWN will stream all three games.

Game 1: No. 9 Air Force 77, No. 8 Fresno State Bulldogs (11-19, 7-11) 70
The Bulldogs swept the season series.

Game 2: No. 10 San Jose Staté Spartans (7-24, 3-15) 66, No. 7 New Mexico 79
The season series was a home split.

Game 3: No. 11 Wyoming 80, No. 6 Colorado State Rams (20-12, 11-7) 74
The Rams swept the season series.

Quarterfinals (Thu., March 5)

CBSSN will air all four games.

Game 4: No. 9 Air Force Falcons (12-20, 5-13) 60, No. 1 San Diego State 73
The Aztecs won the pair’s lone meeting on the road.

Game 5: No. 5 Boise State 67, No. 4 UNLV Runnin’ Rebels (17-15, 12-6) 61
The season series was a home split.

Game 6: No. 7 New Mexico Lobos (19-14, 7-11) 70, No. 2 Utah State 75
The Lobos won the pair’s lone meeting at home.

Game 7: No. 11 Wyoming 74, No. 3 Nevada Wolf Pack (19-12, 12-6) 71
The Wolf Pack swept the season series.

Semifinals (Fri., March 6)

CBSSN will air both games.

Game 8: No. 5 Boise State Broncos (20-12, 11-7) 68, No. 1 San Diego State 81
The Aztecs swept the season series.

Game 9: No. 11 Wyoming Cowboys (9-24, 2-16) 82, No. 2 Utah State 89
The Aggies swept the season series.

Championship (Sat., March 7)

Game 10: No. 2 Utah State Aggies (26-8, 12-6) 59, No. 1 San Diego State Aztecs (30-2, 17-1) 56
The Aztecs swept the season series.

10-Year Mayhem Potential

Data from Bob Vetrone Jr. on Twitter.

Over the past 10 seasons, one of the Mountain West’s top two seeds has won the automatic bid seven times. However, the No. 2 has been more successful than the No. 1 with five titles, compared to just two for the top seed. No. 1 last won in 2017.

• 2 seed (5): 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2019
• 1 seed (2): 2013, 2017
• 4 seed (2): 2010, 2015
• 5 seed (1): 2018

10-Year NCAA Tournament Bid Picture

• 5 bids (1): 2013 (2-5)
• 4 bids (2): 2010 (2-4), 2012 (1-4)
• 3 bids (2): 2011 (4-3), 2015 (1-3)
• 2 bids (3): 2014 (2-2), 2018 (2-2), 2019 (0-2)
• 1 bid (2): 2016 (0-1), 2017 (0-1)

The Mountain West has earned multiple bids in eight of the past 10 seasons, but its four- and five-bid hauls are in the past. It’s 50/50 whether two or more teams get in the 2020 field.

Last NCAA Tournament Appearances

Utah State: 2019 (8 seed, 1st Round)
Nevada: 2019 (7 seed, 1st Round)
San Diego State: 2018 (11 seed, 1st Round)
Fresno State: 2016 (14 seed, 1st Round)
Wyoming: 2015 (12 seed, Round of 64)
Boise State: 2015 (11 seed, First Four)
New Mexico: 2014 (7 seed, Round of 64)
UNLV: 2013 (5 seed, Round of 64)
Colorado State: 2013 (8 seed, Round of 32)
Air Force: 2006 (13 seed, 1st Round)
San José State: 1996 (16 seed, 1st Round, Big West member)

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