Tourney Trip » Colorado State http://www.tourneytrip.com It's about the journey. Fri, 18 Nov 2011 06:11:42 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 It’s time to get your mind right http://www.tourneytrip.com/2010/02/21/its-time-to-get-your-mind-right/ http://www.tourneytrip.com/2010/02/21/its-time-to-get-your-mind-right/#comments Sun, 21 Feb 2010 22:52:22 +0000 Rhett http://www.tourneytrip.com/?p=731

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Headed into the last week of February, if you are thinking of making the tournament, and advancing in the tournament, you had better be rounding into top form.

UNLV coming off a 3 game losing streak against New Mexico, San Diego State, and Utah, found their hoop game against Colorado State yesterday afternoon, and used it to gain a 70-39 win at home against the Rams. Colorado State is a decent squad, with some good pieces and will look to be a player in the league next year. UNLV started the game out on a 10-2 run, had balanced scoring, including 12 points from Anthony Marshall and Chace Stanback, and 11 points from Kendall Wallace and Tre’Von Willis. The Thomas and Mack was a bit empty, but that did not prevent the Rebels from having some great defensive pressure for almost the entire 1st half. The Rams only managed 16 points by halftime. The second half was mostly coasting, with a small Colorado State run squashed by UNLV.

This is called taking care of business. This is a game UNLV should have won, and had to have when you consider the three previous losses. They have TCU and Wyoming at home and Air Force on the road to finish out the season, and should win all 3 games rather easily. They’ll need to to ensure a favorable match up in the 1st round of the conference tournament. Losing the first game in the conference tournament on your home floor is not a good idea.

Michigan State is sitting in another boat. After losing three games, they won two easy road games against Penn State and Indiana. This left them headed into two game, at home vs Ohio State, and on the road at Purdue. Ohio State handled Sparty this afternoon, which is disapointing. Now, the road game at Purdue seems rather important, as the Spartans haven’t proven they can beat good squads lately, and may need the confidence boost a Purdue win would bring, in order to get their minds right for March.

I’m hoping the Rebels will win out in convincing fashion to eliminate any doubt that they should be in the field of 65. I’m also hoping Michigan State starts to hit their stride, knocks off Purdont, and starts off March on the right foot.

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Its amazing to think about the fact that Selection Sunday is 4 weeks away. It is here that the field will be set and the trip will realize itself again, just like a tree growing leaves after the winter or Michigan missing the tourney yet again. Somehow nature always rights itself in the end.

You can add a couple more games to my log.

San Diego St @ UNLV (2/3) – Tough loss for UNLV and really put them towards the middle of the surprisingly decent MWC. Steve Fisher looks like he has aids, and I have no idea how he can recruit all of these power gangsters. It’s complete crap. Vegas should have pulled this game out before it even went to overtime. Missed Ft’s down the stretch kill you against an equally matched team. SDSU 68, UNLV 66 (OT)

TCU @ UNLV (2/10) – Revenge game for Las Vegas after they lost an early road conference game on the road at TCU. Wink Adams had a real nice game, reacting early to some boo’s from the home crowd after a couple of bad turnovers that would have been easy baskets. Next years starting backcourt of Willis and Bellfield continue to develop and excel with the ball in their hands. UNLV 71, TCU 57

Colorado St. @ UNLV (2/14) – Lucky for me I have a beautiful baby who did not mind us headed to the hoop game on Valentines day instead of the typical wooden roses and stuffed bears. What? Anyways, This was another revenge game for the Rebels after losing on the road to a horrible Colorado St. team earlier in the year. Tre’Von Willis had a monster game with 21/6A. He’s fast enough to check both guard spots which makes him versatile. When Bellfield is on the floor he slides to the 2 or 3 and has learned how to get to the rim towards the last half of this year. Great game all around for Vegas, with every game now entering must-win status to keep pace in the MWC. UNLV 89, Colorado St. 70

Coming down the stretch, Michigan State looks secure in the Big Ten (knock on wood), WMU will struggle to finish in the top of the MAC West, and UNLV has several tough games (@ Utah, @ SDSU, home vs BYU) left they’ll need to pull out if they wish to finish top one or two in the MWC. Everybody continues to say that the Mountain West will grab 3 or 4 spots, but I just don’t see it. Finish in 1st or 2nd in the conference, depending on how the conference tourney plays out for the auto bid, and you can breath easy. In the end, I think I like this spot for Las Vegas. The selection committee has proven previously the best you can expect as far as a seed, being the best team in the MWC is an 8 or 9. This is just crap as if you pull out a W in the 1st round, you mind as well just pack your gear, cause you’re playing Kansas. See: Last fricking year. If Las Vegas can get an 11 seed, that’s winnable vs a middle of the pack power conference team, and you’re in business.

Enough of that. You have to get there first. Flights have been purchased, hotels reserved and provisions accounted for. Whatever happens, happens. We’ll still be there.

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