Key Hoops Matchups for week of Jan 6.

[Soupslam]

None of the MWC teams look that great this year. I thought the league was much stronger last year and still fizzled in the Dance. The Aztecs have potential, but are young. I’m not sold on the Aggies. Teams will eventually figure out their zone and like Boise State aren’t the most athletic group of players. They win a lot of games because they have the best home court in the league. 

Coaching holds Boise State back. It’s good other than Duryea who ruins their offense. New Mexico looks like world beaters at times and then like bums at other times. Other than a couple of players, CSU lacks overall talent. Niko is a good game tactician but doesn’t recruit well enough to put them over the top.  Nevada lacks the senior stud(s) like Lucas and Blackshear that can win the close games for them. 

UNLV like Boise State lacks coaching and their talent level is down from previous years. Wyoming has good coaching and is in rebuilding mode. The rest to put it mildly are just not very good. 

In summary the MWC will get two teams in the Dance, maybe three, but doubt any have the talent to get to the Sweet 16. 

[PTR]

On 1/8/2025 at 10:24 AM, Spaztecs said:

Let's hope they strap up on Saturday !

 

Should be a good game. UNM matches up well with them. They have the perimeter length this year to defend Byrd. Aztecs have a more talented roster. UNM is a bit deeper one. It'll be the best MWC home game environment this year. 

[4rowsup]

On 1/8/2025 at 10:26 AM, Spaztecs said:

The MW scheduling is interesting this year. There are a load of big games early in the season.

For SDSU, they played USU, Boise, and UNM early. The schedule really mellows out over the next month. 

And both BSU and UNLV have been the opposite.  Jumped out to good 3 - 0 starts but it was against the dregs of the conference.   For BSU it was Air Force, SJSU and Wyoming.  I think UNLV had Air Force, SJSU and Fresno.  Seems like it has to balance out with some teams starting a bit easier early in the season and others going through the gauntlet.  

[ZonaPoke]

On 1/8/2025 at 8:28 AM, WYO1016 said:

Linder destroyed fan support while he was there by whining about how hard it is to get teams to play in Laramie, get players to come to Laramie, and get fans to come to games. He didn't do anything about it (like talking to students, for example), but he sure did whine.

The AA used to be a packed house. Heath Schroyer came along and tanked it. Larry Shyatt started to build it back up, then Edwards killed fan support again and Linder continued the trend. Sundance will get there, but it's going to take a season or two.

I'd say the biggest killer was the renovation/season ticket shake-up. 10 years later and we still can't fill any of the seats that were bought up by the big corporate sponsors, that crowded out the families to worse seats. Throw in moving students from center court to behind the basket and it's no surprise we've got an uphill battle to rebuild the dome of doom. 

Graham Ike and free pizza for students couldn't do the job, best of luck to Sunny...

[ZonaPoke]

Edit. DP

[Swoll Cracker]

On 1/8/2025 at 12:10 PM, ZonaPoke said:

I'd say the biggest killer was the renovation/season ticket shake-up. 10 years later and we still can't fill any of the seats that were bought up by the big corporate sponsors, that crowded out the families to worse seats. Throw in moving students from center court to behind the basket and it's no surprise we've got an uphill battle to rebuild the dome of doom. 

Graham Ike and free pizza for students couldn't do the job, best of luck to Sunny...

Yeah, the reconfiguration really seemed to sap the energy out of the AA and the only crowd that approaches anything close to the good old days is when CSU visits.

[Swoll Cracker]

Don’t know how many of you are aware but Tom Mosser (Top of the Mountain west podcast) and I do a weekly postgame breakdown show on both X and YouTube.  Last week we decided to go LIVE after all 5 Saturday games were complete and we had a lot of fun breaking down all of the games and interacting with the MWC fan bases.  We’re planning to do the same thing this coming Saturday after the final game of the day (Boise State @ Utah State).

[jdgaucho]

As of right now @Spaztecs...

UCI at CSUN is a Quad 2 road game 

UCI at UCSD is Quad 1 for Irvine, Quad 2 for the Tritons.

 

if you're thinking either has an at-large path.

[Spaztecs]

On 1/8/2025 at 3:29 PM, jdgaucho said:

As of right now @Spaztecs...

UCI at CSUN is a Quad 2 road game 

UCI at UCSD is Quad 1 for Irvine, Quad 2 for the Tritons.

 

if you're thinking either has an at-large path.

 

That would be huge for the BW. 

 

[Spaztecs]

I turned on the Aztec game with 11 mins to go in the first half. I was surprised to see AFA leading 20-8.

The Aztecs then put together a 25-4 run to end the half. It was triggered with their defense creating turnovers that led to easy baskets. They also forced the Falcons into four over and back violations.

The second half has been a scrimmage. At one point the Aztecs had doubled up the AFA 52-26 with a 19-2 run.

I love the Academies and what they represent. Their FB success is fun to watch. But, the AFA needs to move their Olys to the Summit League. They simply can't compete at this level.

[Spaztecs]

The Aztecs held Air Force to fourteen, 14, points in the second half. The Falcons scored 20 in the first 9 mins. Then 18 over the last 31 minutes.

Dominating defense 

[4rowsup]

On 1/8/2025 at 10:45 PM, Spaztecs said:

The Aztecs held Air Force to fourteen, 14, points in the second half. The Falcons scored 20 in the first 9 mins. Then 18 over the last 31 minutes.

Dominating defense 

I watched the beginning of the game.  Gave Air Force open 3s in the first 10 minutes and Air Force made them pay.  Cranked up the D and the shots got tougher.  I do always pull for Air Force when not playing BSU but good for the conference that SDSU started playing and came away with the big win.  

[Spaztecs]

On 1/9/2025 at 9:49 AM, 4rowsup said:

I watched the beginning of the game.  Gave Air Force open 3s in the first 10 minutes and Air Force made them pay.  Cranked up the D and the shots got tougher.  I do always pull for Air Force when not playing BSU but good for the conference that SDSU started playing and came away with the big win.  

From the 11:02 mark of the 1st half until 9:31 left in the game, 21 minutes and 31 seconds of game time, the AFA only scored four points. 

I feel bad for the Academy in basketball. They are completely out classed in the MW. Hopefully, their fortunes will change in the  new MW.

[death]

Washington State just lost to Pacific lol

[jdgaucho]

On 1/9/2025 at 9:00 PM, death said:

Washington State just lost to Pacific lol

 

 

 

[Spaztecs]

On 1/9/2025 at 10:00 PM, death said:

Washington State just lost to Pacific lol

I'm guessing they were looking ahead to Gonzaga.

[death]

Some stats mentioned during the game:

Pacific had lost 9 straight games, 20 conference games in a row, and had 21 consecutive road losses

Absolutely embarrassing for the Coogs

[PTR]

Suck it Cooooooogggggsssss!!!!!!

[jdgaucho]

On 1/8/2025 at 9:19 PM, Spaztecs said:

 

That would be huge for the BW. 

 

 

Both teams won Thursday by double figures. Both teams are inside the NET top-50 as of today