‘Crazy things happen:’ Former Cheyenne star Wade likes Aztecs’ chances

Wade, a Cheyenne High School graduate, is returning to his hometown with plans for the Aztecs to get on a roll in the Mountain West Conference Tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center.

According to the odds at MGM Mirage sports books, Brigham Young is the 6-5 favorite to win the conference tournament, followed by UNLV (8-5), New Mexico (7-2) and San Diego State (8-1).

"You would have to say that BYU is the best team because they are the regular-season conference champions," Wade said. "Things change when you get to Vegas, though. Crazy things happen. You never know what will happen. I think we are the best team."

The fourth-seeded Aztecs will play fifth-seeded Air Force at 2:30 p.m. today in the quarterfinals. The teams met five days ago, and the Falcons won 46-43 at home.

San Diego State was the No. 3 seed last year but was upset 69-64 by Colorado State in the quarterfinals.

• VOICE OF REASON — New Mexico coach Steve Alford has been an outspoken opponent of the conference tournament being at the Thomas & Mack, saying the Rebels get an unfair home-court advantage. But not everyone agrees, especially Utah coach Jim Boylen, who argues the setting is a positive for every program.

"We’re trying to be a premier conference," Boylen said. "I think being in Vegas and the attraction of that helps us right now."

• BRACKET RACKET — According to a "Bracketology" forecast by Joe Lunardi on ESPN.com, the MWC is in good shape to get three teams in the NCAA Tournament.

Lunardi projects BYU as a No. 6 seed and UNLV and New Mexico as No. 11 seeds. In his mock bracket, the Rebels would play Clemson in a first-round game at Washington, D.C.

• NO TV TIME — The Mountain West has its TV network, The Mtn., and some of its programming is a mystery. Colorado State’s 68-63 victory over Wyoming in Wednesday’s play-in game was not televised.