It's easy to forget what the WAC basketball tournament is all about.
Around here, everyone seems to think the early games are preliminary bouts for another BYU-Utah matchup, in Saturday's title game.What this event is really about is opportunity - a chance for some team otherwise headed for the NIT or the offseason to sneak in and grab an NCAA Tournament berth.
Forget the fact that if the No. 10-seeded Air Force Falcons did manage to win this event they'd just end up as fodder for Indiana or North Carolina. The point is, they'd be able to say they made it to The Big Show.
The reality, however, is that the lowest seed to win the WAC tourney, in the 10-year history of the event, was a No. 4. On the other hand, in only three of the nine previous WAC tournaments has a regular-season champ also won it. So the opportunity is there for a borderline NCAA tourney team, like No. 3 seed New Mexico, or UTEP, which has a history of stepping up here, to grab that ticket to the NCAAs.
One thing you can almost count on is that in one of Thursday's games involving the No. 4 seed, there will be an upset. Only twice in tourney history has there not been an opening-round upset. Last year, though, was downright predictable - the higher seed won every game.
Here's a look at the eight non-Utah teams playing at the Delta Center this week:
New Mexico - 21-6 overall, 13-5 WAC, third place. Lobos have won 10 of their last 12, losing only to Colorado State and Fresno State, both on the road. When they have been beat, they've been beaten badly. The reason? They live by the 3-point shot. When they're on, they're in the game. When they're off, they're out. Lobos could face BYU on Friday, if both win Thursday, and they are 3-0 historically against the Cougars in tourney play. First-round opponent is the Bulldogs, who pounded them by 14 two weeks ago. Top scorers: perimeter shooters Ike Williams, who destroyed BYU and Utah, and Steve Logan.
UTEP - 18-11, 10-8, fourth place. Miners played probably their best game of the season in upending Utah last Saturday. First-round foe is Colorado State, and UTEP is 3-0 in tourney play vs. the Rams. Coach Don Haskins does a good job getting them ready for postseason play: They're 17-5 in 10 years of WAC tourney play, easily the best record. Guard Eddie Rivera was the tournament MVP last year. They've had health problems lately, and they haven't been a good shooting or rebounding team, causing them to go 6-6 over their last 12 WAC games. Top scorers: Rivera, forward Ralph Davis.
Colorado State - 17-11, 9-9, fifth place. Rams have been tough at home, vulnerable away, winning just 2 of 9 conference road games. Their fifth-place finish was better than most observers expected, though they had their ups and downs, like beating the Lobos in Albuquerque, and losing to Fresno State at home last Saturday. A high-scoring team, they also give up a lot of points. Top scorers: guard Keith Bonds, forward Aaron Atkinson.
Fresno State - 13-14, 8-10, sixth place. Another team that finished higher than expected, thanks to victories the last two weeks over UTEP, New Mexico and CSU. They play a gambling, run-and-gun style, racking up lots of steals, turnovers and three-point shots. It's a style that could cause problems for the Lobos, but the 'Dogs have had problems playing well on the road (2-7 WAC). Top scorer: forward Travis Stel.
Hawaii - 11-15, 7-11, seventh place (tie). Rainbows were supposed to be better than this, with a bunch of returning lettermen. They finished the season with three straight wins, against CSU, Wyoming and San Diego State. One problem has been winning the close ones - they have seven losses of six points or less. Top scorers: guard Trevor Ruffin, forward Fabio Ribeiro.
Wyoming - 13-14, 7-11, seventh place (tie). Will the Cowboys win one for the Benny? Coach Benny Dees is leaving Laramie for the greener pastures of Western Carolina - will that inspire his players, or shake them? And will it matter, either way? Cowboys lost 9 of last 12 WAC games, but they won three of last five and both losses were by two points. They turn the ball over more than any team in the conference. Top scorer: David Murray.
San Diego State - 7-20, 3-15, ninth place (tie). Aztecs beat Air Force twice and - crowning glory of their conference season - the Cowboys in San Diego. So, naturally, their first-round opponent is Wyoming, which may have state-of-mind problems. Under new coach, Aztecs are better but something is still missing - they continue to look like a bunch of guys waiting for something bad to happen, and it usually does. Defense is league's worst. Top scorer: Joe McNaull.
Air Force - 9-18, 3-15, ninth place (tie). Falcons beat Fresno State twice and CSU once. Their first-round foe, Hawaii, handled them fairly easily in both meetings. The Falcons are last in the WAC in scoring, field-goal percentage, three-point shooting and rebound margin. Only WAC team never to play in championship game. Top scorers: backcourt of Otis Jones, George Irvin.