Monday, March 2, 1998
The surging Rainbows open the
By Cindy Luis
WAC Men's Tournament
vs. UNLV
Star-BulletinLAS VEGAS -- March comes in, roaring like a lion. So do several of the teams in this week's Western Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament.
No. 15 Texas Christian rolls into the 12-team tournament with a 15-game winning streak and the distinction of being the first WAC team to finish undefeated in conference play. The Horned Frogs have not lost since a Jan. 5 crossover game at New Mexico, which did not affect TCU's perfect record (14-0) in the Pacific Division.
No. 5 Utah, the defending tournament champion, claimed the Mountain Division crown in a winner-take-all game Saturday against fading New Mexico. The Utes' only two losses against 25 wins came on the WAC road in altitude: at New Mexico and at Wyoming.
Brigham Young is among the dangerous young lions of the tournament. The Cougars played themselves into the Thomas & Mack Center with the most unlikely of finishes -- sweeping the road trip at New Mexico, ending the Lobos' 41-game home-winning streak, and at Texas-El Paso in triple overtime Saturday, 76-75.
Two teams looking to bite into some upsets are late-charging Hawaii and UNLV. Unfortunately, one will be eliminated here after tomorrow's first-round meeting.
"You have got so many teams who can get hot who have talent," said Rainbow coach Riley Wallace, who includes his team among the title contenders. "Anybody in their right mind wouldn't try to pick a winner."
They don't call it March Madness for nothing. A look at the pairings and teams with first-round byes:
TULSA VS. BRIGHAM YOUNG: The Golden Hurricane (18-11) have been downgraded to a tropical depression after losing their last three. Tulsa is off the bubble for an NCAA Tournament spot, but will likely be invited to the NIT.
The Cougars (9-20) have put together two great games, bolstered by hot outside shooting. It would be an interesting rematch should BYU defeat Tulsa and then face New Mexico on Thursday. Cinderella is alive, but not for long.
COLORADO STATE VS. SMU: The Rams (20-7) have 20 wins, but likely need to get deep into the tournament if they expect to hear from the NCAA. CSU has lost four of its last six, a perfect excuse to be left out of the Big Dance again.
The Mustangs (17-9) have the horses to run the Rams ragged. But don't expect them to do it against TCU on Thursday.
WYOMING VS. SAN DIEGO STATE: The Cowboys (19-7) have the easiest path to Saturday's championship of any team not receiving a first-round bye as they will face two teams on a downward spiral SDSU (12-14) tomorrow and Fresno State Thursday.
Wyoming's Larry Shyatt didn't pick up Mountain Coach of the Year honors (in the media vote) for nothing. And with wins over New Mexico and Utah during the regular season, the Cowboys have good reason to believe they'll get an at-large invite to the NCAAs if they don't win the automatic bid.
HAWAII VS. UNLV: A win tomorrow gives the Rainbows 20 victories, the magical number they've been aiming for all season. Hawaii (19-7) is playing disciplined ball, the kind that led to an 11-1 start.
Saturday's win at Fresno made believers out of a lot of people. More important, it made the Rainbows believe in themselves again.
Hawaii swept UNLV (16-12) in last year's two regular-season meetings by a combined total of three points. The short-handed Rainbows ran out of gas against the Runnin' Rebels here in the NIT last year. Avenging that loss tomorrow might keep Hawaii from being NIT-picked come Sunday.
The Rebels are 12-4 at home, with all the losses coming to ranked teams (Syracuse, UCLA, Utah and New Mexico). They've pulled together since it was announced that star Keon Clark was gone for good.
UNLV gave Utah a battle during the regular season. Hawaii will give the Utes a war.
NEW MEXICO: The Lobos (21-6) might survive the quarterfinals, but likely will join injured senior guard Royce Olney, their leading 3-point shooter, in the stands Friday.
FRESNO STATE: The Bulldogs (17-10) self-destructed late last season. This year's implosion already has begun. Perhaps the most talented team (on paper) in the league is crumpling.
The 'Dogs are off the leash and coach Jerry Tarkanian couldn't control them in their last two games. Hawaii showed them what discipline and teamwork can do last Saturday. But don't expect that it taught the 'Dogs any new tricks as they make an early exit and head off to the NIT.
UTAH: The Utes (25-2) are a lock for the NCAA Tournament, but they're playing for is postseason seeding.
Utah is a tournament-tested team, but might come out uninspired against a team whose postseason hopes ride on the outcome -- like Hawaii.
TEXAS CHRISTIAN: The Horned Frogs (26-4) have shown they can win a running game or one played at half-speed. Uncharacteristic turnovers led to TCU's frustration and eventual demise at New Mexico, traits that have rarely surfaced in the past eight weeks.
Wallace's prediction?
"I see TCU and Hawaii in the final," he said. "We had a tough bracket, but you take what they give you and then go win it.
"If we're out by Saturday, I think it will be Utah in there. But the way our team has been playing together lately, we'd like another shot at TCU."
The roaring begins.
WAC men
Tomorrow: First round: Tulsa vs. BYU, 10 a.m.; Colorado State vs. SMU, 12:30 p.m.; Wyoming vs. San Diego State, 4 p.m.; Hawaii vs. UNLV, 6:30 p.m.
1997-98 Rainbow Men's Basketball Schedule
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
