Deseret News | BYU basketball: Going down with a fight

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BYU basketball: Going down with a fight

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Coug Fan | 12:16 a.m. March 16, 2008

Ok - playing the championship game in front of 5,000 people in Denver was not the answer but playing on the home court of UNLV every year is also not th answer. What a ridiculous advantage they enjoy every single year! I propose going back to the old old format where they rotate the home court around the league at least to the towns that could support a tournment in terms of butts in the seats. That would be Vegas, Salt Lake, Provo, Albuquerque, and maybe San Diego. At least that way it gets spread around. And I think the arena's would be full in all of those places. Maybe after UNLV has run off 8 out of 9 tournament championships will the rest of the league start screaming foul.

Come on MWC | 12:50 a.m. March 16, 2008

This shouldnt be that hard. The best and most fair way would be to play the tourney at the MWC champs house. In this case, BYU. But no the MWC decides that money is the most important thing and holds the darn thing in Vegas. If I didnt already know I would think a bunch of six year old girls were running the MWC.

kwt | 1:11 a.m. March 16, 2008

The longer they play this tournament on the home floor of UNLV it will become more of a joke to behold. It boggles me to think the league wants to do that. And to think this is going to go on indefinitely. I can see it now. The UNLV basketball coach goes into a home of a recruit and says, "son, you will be going to the NCAA tournament every year because we get the MWC on our home floor." In my opinion, the league is selling out for the almight dollar. Come on MWC. Atleast level the court so everyone has a chance. To think the cougars worked through 16 league cames and got first place, and then to have the league tell them you have to beat UNLV on their home floor. Not just this year, but EVERY YEAR. MY respect for the MWC is slipping away. First it was the TV contract, now they do this. What next. Did I hear that we need a new commissioner? I am anxious to see what the next idiotic decision will be made by this league.

Comments continue below

Provo? | 1:07 a.m. March 16, 2008

You mentioned Provo but wrote maybe in front of San Diego. What? Are you serious? Yes provo has a huge arena, that is a dump!!!! i have been to dozens of arenas throughout the country and yes BYUs arena is big but maybe one of the worst i have have watched a game in. San Diego is a real city, an amazing one at that, that has the capibility of hosting a major event. Provo, please tell me what provo has to offer. If you even ventured out of bubblevill then you would realize that provo, other than larmie, would be the worst place to have the MWC tournament

BlueCoug | 1:12 a.m. March 16, 2008

UNLV played a great game and got a nice home court win, but until they move the MWC Tournament to a neutral site, I refuse to recognize UNLV as the tournament champion anymore. All UNLV has proven is that they can beat any team in the MWC at their place. Until the MWC decides that holding a fair tournament is more important than money, they might as well change the name of this post-season fiasco to the UNLV Invitational.

And for all who disagree, I propose moving the next 3 tournaments to the Marriott Center. Afterall, it has a larger capacity than the T&M and I'm sure that BYU fans could easily fill the arena.

Belgie | 1:13 a.m. March 16, 2008

Every year that the MWC champ loses to UNLV on their home court, the NCAA selection committee is going to look at it as if they didn't get the job done in the conference tournament and it's going to give them a lower seed in THE tournament.

Rotation | 2:02 a.m. March 16, 2008

I say keep it off an actual home court. Energy Solutions Arena would be fine. UNLV would probably cry foul though, especially if they didn't get home-court calls in a "neutral" location.

Quit Crying Cougar Fan | 2:14 a.m. March 16, 2008

What is the big deal? You won the regular season and UNLV won the tourney. Both teams are getting bids into the NCAA tournament. Had BYU won, there might be a chance of only ONE MWC team getting into the tournament.

Two teams equals more NCAA money for the conference schools.

So what you're saying is that BYU would be "guaranteed" the automatic NCAA tourney berth once EVERY NINE YEARS, is that it? Because if SDSU hosts it, they win, if Utah hosts it, they win, if CSU hosts it, etc. etc. etc. Eight of the nine years, you Cougar fans would complain about losing on someone else's home court.

UNLV went to the Sweet 16 last year as tourney champs. BYU, first round losers to Xavier.

If BYU was good enough, home court would not matter. This is why, no matter where they're seeded, BYU will lose in the first round -- they're not mentally tough.

Then again, it's agood thing BYU lost. Can you imagine Cougar fans embarrassing the state of Utah again by criminally trespassing by rushing the court at the TMC, much like they did on UNLV's home football field after lucking out vs. UCLA.

Craig | 2:36 a.m. March 16, 2008

The whole idea of conference tournaments is stupid to begin with and should be abolished. Is there anything fair about it? A team is supposed to earn an NCAA big. Winning just 3 games should not be deserving of an auto bid.

But how nice is it to be UNLV? Every year, all they really have to do is win 3 home games and they go to the NCAA's.
Not only that, the refs will make sure they get there. They should have lost the first game to TCU, but hey, we all know (as do the MtnWest bigwigs) that if UNLV goes out in the first round, the it's a financial disaster for the conference.

This will only be changed when BYU stops showing up at all.

I didn't even watch any of the conf tournament because I already knew what was going to happen. BYU would get to the final and lose to UNLV. I mean, did anyone expect anything different?

BYU is the real Mtn West champion, 2 straight years. Winning the UNLV Invitational is not a championship.

GT | 2:37 a.m. March 16, 2008

Provo can't support a tournament. Not enough hotels. SLC could though.

just win! | 2:52 a.m. March 16, 2008

Vegas is really the only place the tournament makes sense. Denver was horrible, and no one wants to go to Albuquerque. Provo will never be considered because there's nothing to do for visiting fans(or anyone else for that matter) . Salt Lake and San Diego are ok options, but Vegas is the most convenient, and its an actual "destination". It would be better to play it on a neutral floor somewhere further from UNLV campus, but it's still better than anything else. At least UNLV usually wins a few games when they go dancing.

You mean the home team won? | 3:50 a.m. March 16, 2008

BYU just lost 2 spots in the ncaa tournament. If the MWC tournament was in Provo, I don't think there would be any question who would be the victor just like if it was in Vegas. Oh you mean it is in Vegas?

Send the tournament to Phoenix please.

G | 4:33 a.m. March 16, 2008

Good luck in the NIT.

Ute Fan | 5:08 a.m. March 16, 2008

Amen to that. But don't hold your breath. Craig Thompson seems incapable of making good decisions.

Anonymous | 5:11 a.m. March 16, 2008

Seriously, if it was in Provo, we would fill up the Marriott center. Plus there wouldn't be drunk fans fighting after a win!

Attendance | 5:37 a.m. March 16, 2008

The average attendance for the years the tournament was held at the Pepsi Center in Denver: 9,000+

The average attendance for the tournament in the Thomas and Mack Center: approx. 13,000

Are those approximately 4,000 fans worth the unfair advantage given to UNLV every year? NO!

I would bet Craig Thompson and the MWC officials are getting a nice little kick-back from the Las Vegas tourism people to hold the tournament there.

It's all about the money isn't it Thompson? It's time for you to go!

Or | 6:27 a.m. March 16, 2008

How about BYU learn to win tough games on the road? Last I checked there were no home games in the NCAA tournament.

Glado | 6:41 a.m. March 16, 2008

I feel so badly for the boys after trying so hard all season.
--NOT--
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA

Realist | 6:36 a.m. March 16, 2008

It might work better to not allow beer in the game and leave the tasers at home.

Anonymous | 6:55 a.m. March 16, 2008

It makes the regular season meaningless. I think they should have the regular season champion host the tournament. Then the regular season would have meaning!

Coloradoan | 7:15 a.m. March 16, 2008

When will the MWC figure out that the tournament is not about tourists--it's about basketball. It's about who we send from the conference as the best teams--it's about ceeding--it's about competing nationally. No place else in the country has this stupid format for conducting a conference tournament. It needs to be fixed, and now. I did not go to the tournament this year though I've been many many times in the past. I even flew from Dallas to Denver one year, but I will not go back to Vegas to watch the tourney until some equity is afforded all the other teams.

Anonymous | 7:10 a.m. March 16, 2008

Whine, whine, whine...Just win a game of any significance away from the Marriott Center and then you may begin to create at least an ounce of credibility.

Rich | 7:24 a.m. March 16, 2008

The Big Sky has it right. Reward the regular season champion by letting them host the tournament.

Again...? | 7:41 a.m. March 16, 2008

So yes UNLV won the conference tournament under the conference's rules again...congratulations to them. They played well.

But anyone in the MWC who is paying attention knows that the set up is not even remotely fair. Home court advantage is a bigger deal in college basketball than any other sport. It's generally difficult in any league to win on the road.

Had this tournament been played at TCU or Utah, chance are UNLV wouldn't have even been in the finals. They barely beat both of those team, and had a huge momentum boost from their home court fans. If last night's game had been in Provo, there's no way UNLV goes on the crazy run like they did in the second half. If they're going to have the conference tournament in Vegas, at least move it to the Orleans hotel or somewhere else besides UNLV's home court. This is the same reason why every major conference in America holds its tournament in a neutral venue.

Why is it that the MWC can't ever seem to get it right?

Japan | 7:37 a.m. March 16, 2008

Scream foul now for crying out loud!
There is no excuse for this kind of fan behavior. Just no excuse. It does not matter what team it is or where it is played. I hope people are arrested for their behavior.
And Nuetral or rotated venues should be the policy. It is hard to understand why the MWC let's this go like this.
Sad.

W Green | 7:41 a.m. March 16, 2008

Candidly, i think it's time for the MWC to stop giving UNLV a home court advantage every year in the conference tournament. It is very clearly about the money to the conference, but is very unfair to the athletes on the other teams to have to compete for the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament on UNLV's home cocurt every year.

Bob | 7:44 a.m. March 16, 2008

It's really unfortunate that we have the talent but lack the mental toughness to win big games. This will probably be the case in the NCAA tournament as well. Then we will blame the inevitable poor seed that we will get because the committee loves to stick it to us for not playing on Sunday.

Re Coug Fan | 7:50 a.m. March 16, 2008

Instead of you wonderful Y supporters crying and whinning about Las Vegas, or other home court advantages why don't you people put your energy towards something that should never have came to pass. Just stop these stupid conference tournaments at the end of a long season, and get back to reality with the regular season only being the selection for post season play. What is the purpose of all of these phony year end tourneys anyway? GREED for the almighty buck thats what they are. Stop it.

Sierra Blue | 8:10 a.m. March 16, 2008

No one will scream foul when UNLV beats BYU every year in the finals! Until UNLV starts beating the rest of the conference in the finals, it will stay like it is. BYU is in a catch 22. If the Cougars continue to win the regular season, the rest of the league will be happy to see them loose in the finals. Do we want the alternative? (for BYU to loose the regular season). I don't think so.

Maybe the answer is to have the tournament in Vegas, but not at the Thomas and Mack? Too bad the league signed a long term contract with the arena.

I do think the experience will help them at the NCAA tournament.

Learn to Live with It | 8:24 a.m. March 16, 2008

First, the tournament is in the T&M for at least the next two years per contract. Coach Rose has and uses it to prepare his team for the tournmant --fans please quit winning about it.

Secondly, Provo will not host any tournament ever other than the Cougar Classic. It holds more than the T&M by about 5,0000 people but with the same square footage. Unless your a standing screaming student, watching a game in the Marriot Center is about as comfortable as watchinger conference in the old Tabernacle -- painful. Parking is a huge problem as well. It is futher never a viable option for any tournament because of the distance from the airport. I am also not confident at all that the tickets would sell. The other teams fans would have little or no incentive to travel to Provo to watch basketball in that crappy arena and then go to University Mall afterward. In addition, you are not giving the tickets away to the 40K students for free to fill up the Marriot -- they are sold and are expensive. BYU travels well to Vegas and gets probably 2,000 more locals. Provo would not ber much different in numbers.

dyc | 8:26 a.m. March 16, 2008

I agree with Coug Fan. Just as it wouldn't be fair to hold the tournament every year at the Marriott Center, we have to do something about holding it every year at the Thomas and Mack. UNLV did a great job, and in no way am I putting down the effort UNLV made to fight back and win the game; however, there is an extra player on the floor when you have home court advantage.

denver resident | 8:35 a.m. March 16, 2008

Sounds like sour grapes.
I give the cougs one win max in the NCAA tourney.

OUT | 8:44 a.m. March 16, 2008

Out with these ridiculous conference tournaments. There are still many conferences around the country that do not have these phony year tournaments. Regular season COUNTS. Then you would not have this home court fiasco everyone is whinning about. Why do you fans think these tournaments are O K? Stop them.

Not impressed | 8:50 a.m. March 16, 2008

I'm certainly not impressed that unlv won this on their home court. If it had been held at the Marriott Center BYU would have won it, so this is not a big deal that unlv did.

Big Daddy Coug | 8:47 a.m. March 16, 2008

BYU should play all their games at home. That way they would be NCAA champs for sure.

Doesn't have it figured out | 8:59 a.m. March 16, 2008

There is something that Dave Rose just hasn't figured out yet about playing unlv at their place. Even TCU played them a lot better than we did. We know we can beat them as seen by a 26 point win at the Marriott Center. What is the big hang-up about playing them at their place???

observer | 9:12 a.m. March 16, 2008

TCU - got jobbed at the end with an "and one" call. Utah - got jobbed numerous times during the game, how many times did the out of bounds call go UNLV's way when it was clearly Utah's ball or uncertain - at least twice the UNLV fan next to me said - you are right but we'll take it - when the ball was given to UNLV. Not to mention foul calls. BYU - second half let's call a foul on anyone withing two feet of Terry when he throws up a crazy shot (and once in the first half) because no way he's out of control like that unless he's fouled. MWC representing the best interest of all it's constituents once again.

Josh | 9:18 a.m. March 16, 2008

I couldn't agree more. If this game had been played at the Marriot center who wouldn't have been complaining?

And a child shall lead them | 9:18 a.m. March 16, 2008

No excuses and no whining from this long-time true blue BYU fan! We were outplayed, outhustled, out-coached, out-passioned, etc., etc. Lon Kruger and his under-sized troops took it to BYU in every conceivable manner. When the game was on the line mid-way through the second half-only one team turned it up a notch and it was not BYU.

Seriously maybe the RM age factor is legitimate and we are just too old to play a full game of full-court basketball. The only one on the court with any energy at all was a true frosh-Jimmer Fredette. He was the only one that remembered that a winning hoops strategy is to take the ball to the hoop. Everyone else seemed content to let UNLV push them out to the time line and then launch a off-balance trey as the shot clock ran down.

No hustle, tired legs, no passion, no killer instinct are all reasons (not excuses) that the Cougs came up short again.

Our first round opponent (probably an 8-seed) has the blueprint to beat us.

Sorry fellow Cougar fans-another ONE and DONE year at the big dance.

For one, I really thought that this was our year!

Ed | 9:25 a.m. March 16, 2008

I wonder what would have happened if the game had been played on BYUï¿½s home court.
It is obvious that this consistent home court advantage determines the outcome of what should be a legitimate playoff; who or whom ever determines this strange venue needs their agenda examined.

Ken T. | 9:23 a.m. March 16, 2008

The number two team in the league plays the number 1 team in the league on the numger two teams home court. And we still deal with this train wreck of a TV deal. Where in these Universities were the lawyers and especially BYU with access to the church's legal dept on both of these issues? Doesnt say much for higher education does it.

Cougar fan | 9:24 a.m. March 16, 2008

If Provo is too much of a dump for these games, let's go up to Salt Lake and play them in the Ute's arena. Or, better yet, let's play them at the Delta Center.

Boise State faced same odds | 9:24 a.m. March 16, 2008

playing New Mexico State at Las Cruces, but managed to win in 3 OT.

In spite of losing their top two scorers to homer refs, they still had the heart and desire to overcome the stacked odds (Las Vegas reference) and pull out a thrilling victory.

Come on Cougars, where is your heart??

You have five days to find it before heading to the big dance as a 9 or 10 seed.

Will the real BYU Cougars show up this year?

Ed | 9:26 a.m. March 16, 2008

WHAT A JOKE!!!!!

Ripped off again | 9:27 a.m. March 16, 2008

Final score:
UNLV home floor: 2
MWC: 0

That's two years in a row the tournament was decided by the conference scheduling it at Thomas & Mack.

The year I thought the Cougs were playing good enough to offset the unfair scheduling, but one half of good play wasn't enough to take the crowd out of it.

Now it will be just like last year. The Selection Committee will only look at the score (and not the whole season) and give the Rebels the better seed.

The only solution would be for BYU athletic officials to just say "No" to the tournament. BYU's season was plenty good enough to make the field of 65 -- probably as a 6 seed, but now they've thrown it all away by agreeing to play at the Thomas & Mack.

I know, those of us who see it like it really is sound like whiners. But be realistic. Is it fair to play the tourney on the home court of a conference team?

No way! The Utes got robbed too.

Wait till the Selection Show. BYU's great season stays in Vegas.

WinSum | 9:27 a.m. March 16, 2008

The problem: The MWC Leadership and University Presidents, and The Mnt. Network. The Las Vegas Invitational should not be called a tournament. San Diego has a neutral site, SLC has a neutral site and Denver.....but $$$ and "letting it stay in Vegas" again fails.

UNLV played a great game, but so would TCU or New Mex.Utah or BYU..on their home floor..hence the "shows and buffet must be the draw. certainly not the fans....having had a family play @ UNLV, this is still pathetic...

The Mountain TV net work.interesting they wouldn't televise the final game live....oh ... reruns are good for the next 33 days....

Glado | 9:32 a.m. March 16, 2008

The Deseret News is pretty thin skinned if one can't diagree in one's affinity for BYU.
The Y lost. So what? It's a silly game.
BWAHAHAHAHHA

SLC'er | 9:37 a.m. March 16, 2008

lol, please stop crying. Please? Look, no matter where they played the game, there would be some sort of home court advantage. But hey, I will email the MWC and suggest that the next Conference tournament be played in Anchorage. I hear its beautiful this time of year and that way there would be no home court advantage. Vegas is the natural place for the tournament. No one went to the tournament when it was in Denver. Can you imagine if the tournament was held in Salt Lake? No one would go besides Utah and BYU fans. And Provo? Did someone really suggest that Provo would be a good place to hold the tournament? Hahahaha, even Utah fans wouldn't go there. Stop being sore losers. I know UNLV had a home court advantage, but having the tournament in Vegas is the only option. It draws national attention (slight, but better than if it was in Provo), it is a big tourist city, and it is a fun, exciting opportunity for the players (well, besides BYU players).

JayCee | 9:44 a.m. March 16, 2008

This is just another iteration of MWC's sports guru's short sighted management. The debacle of the MWC sell out to Comcast where a few quick bucks was more important than national exposure, fan loyalty and all the other benefits satellite TV would have brought will never be corrected. And probably the few quick bucks Las Vegas brings to the championship Game will keep their eyes closed to the inequity and real damage it does to the conference.

Dave | 9:47 a.m. March 16, 2008

Once again the zoobies are showing your true colors like a bunch of little babies. Funny how nobody mentioned the home court advantage UNLV has until after you lost.

Get over it!! Each and every school had to agree with the league to have the tourney held at UNLV. Once again your team has proven they can't win under pressure especially against a team with quickness.

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Stuart Johnson, Deseret News

BYU's Lee Cummard gets consolation from his teammates after he fouls out with just 11 points in the Cougars' MWC tournament final loss to UNLV on Saturday.

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BYU basketball: Going down with a fight