Starting on Wednesday, March 12, the Mountain West Championship will be must-see TV. With five teams that conceivably have a shot at the title and a few more teams looking to make some noise, the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada is sure to be packed with excitement.
Two teams I would look out for are Nevada and Wyoming. They have both had very close games against some of the league's best teams, but haven’t quite been able to get over the edge and secure victories.
Wyoming especially is fueled by one of the league's top players: Obi Agbim. Either team could get a few upsets and make a run deeper into the tournament.
Currently, the most accomplished teams are the San Diego State Aztecs, the Utah State Aggies and the New Mexico Lobos. These teams have the experience and star power to win a title.
The Lobos, who secured the regular season title, are sure to have a target on their backs. But behind my candidate for MW Player of the Year, Donovan Dent, UNM will be tough to push off the mountain.
However, I would not be surprised if none of these three teams won the tournament. Both Boise State and Colorado State would likely need to win the tournament to go to the NCAA tournament. As seen last year with the Lobos, it is very possible for a team to will themselves to victory and steal an NCAA bid.
I believe the Colorado State Rams will do just that. They are a team that has gotten hot at just the right time — they have won their last seven games, including a blowout against Utah State. They have managed to secure a first-round bye as the No. 2 seed in the tournament.
The Rams’ star guard Nique Clifford is also the second-best player in the conference. The Rams’ recent success, along with their desperation for their season to continue past the tournament, is why I think they will be the 2025 MWC Champions.
Jaden McKelvey-Francis is a beat reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on X @jadenmckelvey
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