Christensen: The Sock Hop Before the Gala
FacebookBy Todd Christensen
March 7, 2011
Conference tournaments create mixed emotions with fans. On the one hand, there’s extra basketball at an exciting time of year that has a do-or-die feel to it, not unlike the ensuing "madness.”
But on the other hand, it takes something away from the regular season and the vigilance of that team who has persevered to overcome so much throughout the campaign to become champion, only to have to prove it all over again in a format that seems to reward the underdog.
Of course this is all idle chatter as the Golden Rule prevails - "those with the gold make the rules.”
More games, more money. Simple as that.
A week ago it would seem that BYU was a mortal lock to be the champion, fresh off a pasting of their chief rival SDSU on Montezuma Mesa no less. But with the suspension of leading rebounder, shot-blocker and second-leading scorer Brandon Davies, the Cougars are bereft of an inside presence on both ends of the court. The 18-point thrashing at the hands of the New Mexico Lobos at the Marriott Center, where they are seemingly unbeatable, left an indelible mark upon the vulnerability of the blue-and-white and despite putting up a century-mark of tallies against the Wyoming Cowboys to capture the regular-season crown, it’s obvious that this is not the same team that garnered a No. 3 national ranking.
San Diego State is the favorite but the confidence of New Mexico has to be quite high after the defeat of the Cougars, not to mention the maturing of their talented freshmen throughout the season. UNLV heads into the tournament fresh off a 20-point dismantling of Utah in Salt Lake City and with the home crowd behind them in Sin City, they cannot be taken lightly. And Tim Miles would like nothing more than to shock the MWC by proving that the quantum leap the Rams have made in 2010-11 could include a title.
Yes the "big dance" is a lot of fun but this is a nice precursor to the impending drama. And no doubt the MWC roundball stalwarts will create some drama of their own this week.
ALL TIMES MOUNTAIN
