Dayton. Spokane. Indianapolis. Salt Lake City. Memphis.
When your conference equals its own record by placing six teams in the NCAA Tournament, the tough job for a Mountain West commissioner is choosing which host city to attend.
Turns out, gymnastics made a basketball decision for Gloria Nevarez, the commish.
“It’s our inaugural women’s gymnastics championships this year in Salt Lake,” Nevarez told The Denver Gazette late Sunday night after a momentous day for the Mountain West. “So I’ll be in Salt Lake.”
There, she will see No. 10 Nevada (against No. 7 Dayton). The other options were Spokane (No. 5 San Diego State), Dayton (No. 10 Colorado State, No. 10 Boise State), Indy (No. 8 Utah State) and Memphis (No. 11 New Mexico).
A spectacular Mountain West season advanced into a Selection Sunday cloaked in controversy.
While the Mountain West was "thrilled" at the number of teams invited to the Big Dance, its seeds were lower than expected. The selection committee inferred that Mountain West teams loaded up on valuable wins in conference, while avoiding marquee matchups out of conference.
Only No. 5 San Diego State and No. 8 Utah State will wear home jerseys as higher-seeded teams in the first round.
“I was really surprised how most of the Mountain West was seeded,” CSU coach Niko Medved said. “I think if you talk to the hundreds of people who do the bracketology, I think they really had all the Mountain West teams seeded higher than that.”
“But you know what? That’s fine,” Medved added. “They always disrespect our league. Now it’s time to go out and do something about it.”
The selection committee seemed to forego its own parameters in seeding the Mountain West. New Mexico, for example, was No. 22 in the NET — and earned a No. 11 seed. Duquesne, meanwhile, also earned a No. 11 seed — with a No. 83 in the NET. But here’s a guess that tournament snubs Indiana State, St. John’s, and Oklahoma would gladly take UNM’s No. 11 seed.
“I understand the (sour) reaction. Everybody who’s been in this situation goes there (to the disrespect card) first,” Nevarez said. “But I’m hopeful that it becomes locker room ammunition. The teams (that win) are the ones that respond to that.”
The Mountain West goes dancing
No. 10 Colorado State vs. No. 10 Virginia, 7:10 p.m. Tuesday (truTV)
No. 10 Boise State vs. No. 10 Colorado, 7:10 p.m. Wednesday (truTV)
No. 7 Dayton vs. No. 10 Nevada, 2:30 p.m. Thursday, (TBS)
No. 5 San Diego State vs. No. 12 UAB, 11:45 a.m. Friday (TNT)
No. 6 Clemson vs. No. 11 New Mexico, 1:10 p.m. Friday (truTV)
No. 8 Utah State vs. No. 9 TCU, 7:55 p.m. Friday (TBS)
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