Mountain West Tournament: BYU vs. UNLV This Is Going To Be Good

by Jeremy Mauss on Mar 12, 2010 1:50 PM PST in Basketball

Next Game

Friday, Mar 12, 2010, 8:30 PM PST
Mountain West Tournament - Semifinals - Thomas & Mack Center - Las Vegas, NV

The semi-finals panned out with all top four seeds advancing. BYU defeated TCU while UNLV beat Utah, and the two will meet up tonight. Side note: why are the games so late? I know the ladies are playing at the same arena but I would think a 10pm eastern start for the late game would work. Oh well. Now back to your original programming. This game will be huge because neither like each other as this is one of the most underrated hoops rivalry in the country and it just gets better in the tournament.

There are a lot of BYU fans who live in Vegas and who will make the six hour car drive to the Thomas and Mack. Fights go on, religious, and lifestyle taunting goes on between both. During the regular season the team split both matchups with the home team winning both. This game will be played on the floor that is home to the Rebels, so they have a built in advantage.

UNLV may want to put a guy or two (or three) on Jimmer Fredette who is a stud with deep range and can take any player of the dribble, and here is a illustration of Jimmers range. Look for UNLV to play aggressive as they did against Utah where they were up in the face of any Ute who touched the ball and sometimes fouls were called.

This semi final should live up to the hype because of the rivalry and that the teams and fans dislike each other very much. Both teams are safe for the tournament so they are just jockeying for seeding which is more important for BYU who is trying to make a push to get into the West Regional which happens to be in Salt Lake for round two.

Again do not miss this game.

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Comments

Jimmer

Although Fredette managed 21 points against the Rebels in the last loss in Las Vegas, it was a fairly inefficient performance. It should be interesting to see how he follows-up last night’s big effort.

What I’m especially intrigued about is his defense. Last time he didn’t really impress me on the defensive end.

by David Fucillo on Mar 12, 2010 2:52 PM PST reply actions

He didn't really impress me either

he got most of his points from the foul line, where he went 12 for 12, which I give him props for. On the defensive end, he couldn’t really stop much and on the offensive didn’t make much of his field goals. If UNLV plays defense the way they did against Utah last night, it should be the same conditions… UNLV at home BYU unable to drain the 3’s like normal… That said BYU is nowhere close to the offensive firepower BYU is, so it isn’t exactly going to be the same way it happened in Vegas last time.

Rebel Rock

by rebelfan1 on Mar 12, 2010 3:15 PM PST up reply actions

he was sick for one game

Points are points last night he made 23 points from the line, and if UNLV plays as physical as they did against Utah there could be a near repeat performance from the line.

Either way tonight is a great hoops night.

Mountain West Connection

by Jeremy Mauss on Mar 12, 2010 3:36 PM PST up reply actions

Make sure the Rebels don't look at him funny

He will be at the line shooting two before they know it.

Mountain West Connection ::Above the Rest::
Bolts From The Blue "There’s a gleam men. Let’s go get the gleam! Focus and Finish!!! One play at a time!!! Let's Go!!!"
it kind of reminds me of that movie "You've got mail"...I'm Tom Hanks he's Meg Ryan -- Padres prospect Matt Antonelli on sdsuaztec4

by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Mar 12, 2010 3:46 PM PST up reply actions

I live in Vegas!

and I’m going to miss this game… :( I have a meeting that ends at 8:30 and won’t get the game on TV because the Cox Cable guy hasn’t come out yet to fix it. I will be listening to it on RADIO. :( :( :(

Rebel Rock

by rebelfan1 on Mar 12, 2010 3:13 PM PST reply actions