Mountain West basketball tourney expected to remain at Thomas & Mack
After Mountain West officials gathered for a weekend meeting in Phoenix, the future of the conference’s basketball tournaments remained a mystery. No announcement was made Monday by the conference office.
But there was a vote, according to two league sources, and the result was more of the same. The Mountain West’s contract with the Thomas & Mack Center, which expires after this season, is expected to be extended for three years.
The Pac-12 Conference’s deal to stage its tournament at the MGM Grand Garden Arena also expires in 2016, and it is anticipated that league will relocate to the new MGM arena on the other side of the Strip.
A potential move by the Pac-12 makes financial sense because the new arena will seat about 6,000 more fans for basketball games. The Mountain West is following the money, too, because it has a sweeter deal at the bigger Thomas & Mack.
Las Vegas as the host city is no longer a point of debate.
But San Diego State coach Steve Fisher has been the most outspoken objector of holding the league tournament in UNLV’s home arena. Rebels coach Dave Rice has said he’s also in favor of the Mountain West moving to the MGM Grand to create more of a neutral-court environment for the tournament.
The Aztecs played in six of the past seven championship games at the Thomas & Mack, winning titles in 2010 and 2011.
The Rebels last won the Mountain West tournament in 2008, but that has not stopped opposing coaches from complaining about UNLV’s home advantage.
After the Mountain West Board of Directors concluded an annual mid-year meeting, the conference issued a news release stating a “final decision is expected to be announced within the coming days” regarding the 2017, 2018 and 2019 men’s and women’s basketball tournaments.
Fisher is not going to like the announcement, and he’s not alone.
Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. Follow him on Twitter: @mattyoumans247