Mountain West Tourney Preview: Jimmer Fredette Show Comes to Las Vegas
Three Teams that Can Take Down San Diego State
The UNLV Runnin Rebels have had difficulty shooting the ball from outside this year which is unusual for them and the Colorado State Rams have been a nice surprise this season. The Mountain West team that has disappointed this year has been the New Mexico Lobos. The following three teams will give the Aztecs trouble as they try to run the table and gain consideration for a number one seed in the NCAA Tournament.
No.3 Colorado State Rams
Colorado State has been a surprise this season in Mountain West Conference play but they have yet to beat the two best teams in the conference BYU and San Diego State. Colorado State is a team that can get rolling with a big scoring run and they are ranked 14th in the country in shooting percentage from the field.
Andy Ogide is the Rams best shooter averaging over 16 points per game and they do have some big men in the lineup. One team that they match up well against is the San Diego State Aztecs and just missed an opportunity for a signature win against them losing 56-54 in Fort Collins. Colorado State is the upset pick for the Mountain West Tournament.
No,2 UNLV Runnin Rebels
How can a team that can't hit a three pointer be considered one of the teams that can beat San Diego State? Two words, Lon Kruger. Kruger lives for tournament play and although UNLV has not fared well in the Mountain West Tournament recently Kruger may have them about to peak at the right time.
The UNLV Rebels are hitting just over 30 percent from three point land and their best scorers are not averaging over 13 points per game. Tre'Von Willis began the season on suspension for an off the field incident and it has taken him most of the season to find his shot.
Anthony Marshall has shown signs that UNLV will be in good hands when Willis leaves after his senior year. UNLV as the home team has a good opportunity to make a statement and move up the seeding ladder with a win in the tournament.
No.1 BYU Cougars
Yes we know Jimmer Fredette is on this team but he will be facing these teams for the third time. UNLV held Jimmer to 13 points from the field but he went 16 for 16 from the free throw line. Fredette is hovering around 90 percent from the free throw line this year and he makes it to the line for more than half of his 27 points per game.
Noah Hartsock is one of the unsung heroes on this team that can shoot daggers from the outside as well as Jackson Emery. When teams can tie up Fredette these two players will have to step up and take over the games. If BYU plays UNLV this may be the game of the tournament and don't expect any nice words to be exchanged. BYU is the one team that can win big over San Diego State if they do meet up.
What Can San Diego State Aztecs Do to Run Table?
The San Diego State Aztecs have played a great regular season but are they a tournament team? The Aztecs have the best two way player in the tournament, Kawhi Leonard. Leonard can take over a game but there others that will rise to the occasion.
Billy White is a Las Vegas resident that is always up for games in the familiar Thomas and Mack. White is one of the better outside shooters on the team but the best pure shooter on the team may be D.J. Gay. Gay is hitting 38 percent from the three point arc and averaging just over 12 per game.
San Diego State will fall in the Mountain West tournament to one of these three teams and the ultimate winner will be the UNLV Runnin Rebels on their home floor.
More from Yahoo Contributor Network:
College basketball's 10 best coaches of all time
ACC Tournament: Will Someone Upset Duke?
NCAA Tournament 2011: Las Vegas Odds to Win & Picks
UNLV Runnin Rebels deserve to be in NCAA tournament?
statistical sources:
Published by Todd Jacobs
Todd Jacobs is from Anaheim, California and resides in the city of Las Vegas. Todd worked for Orange Coast Magazine as News Editor in the 80s and recently began writing for several online sites including:... View profile
BYU Challenging Air Force for Mountain West CrownAir Force started out the 2007 season as the team to beat in the Mountain West Conference, but Dave Rose has BYU motivated more than ever to win a conference championship and en...- Jimmer Fredette Scores 43 as Brigham Young Beats San Diego StateJimmer Fredette led Brigham Young over San Diego State in a classic Mountain West game.
- Mountain West Men's Basketball Tournament Day 1 Analysis Recapping the first day of the MWC Tournament.
- NCAA Tournament Team Profile: UNLV Runnin' RebelsUNLV was once known as the greatest show in college basketball, back in their heyday. Now under coach Lon Kruger, UNLV circa 2010 is more workman like and tournament savvy.
NCAA Basketball Tournament Hopefuls Must Perform Well in Conference Tour...The weekend before the conference tournament is one of the most exciting weekends in NCAA College Basketball. The weekend is an elimination of teams on the bubble of making the...
- NCAA Tournament 2010: Mountain West Conference Suffers from Lack of Exposure
- New Mexico Fans Unhappy with Mountain West Conference Performance in 2010 NCAA's
- Mountain West Conference NCAA Tournament Heats Up in March
- Mountain West Conference Basketball Will Be Stronger Than Ever in 2011
- No.4 San Diego St Aztecs Vs No. 9 BYU Cougars: Mountain West Battle Most Important...
- NCAA Mountain West Conference Notes
- 2009 NCAA Tournament Snubs: San Diego State, St. Mary's
- The Mountain West team that has disappointed this year has been the New Mexico Lobos.
- Andy Ogide is the Rams best shooter averaging over 16 points per game.
- UNLV held Jimmer to 13 points from the field.