2009–10 MWC men's basketball season
Encyclopedia
The 2009–10 Mountain West Conference men's basketball season marks the 11th season of Mountain West Conference
basketball
.
. The league's media overwhelmingly voted Brigham Young
the preaseason #1 and BYU junior guard Jimmer Fredette
the preseason player of the year.
New Mexico's Roman Martinez was named to the 30-man Lowe's Senior CLASS Award
preseason candidate list.
Preseason Player of the Year
Preseason Newcomer of the Year
Preseason Freshman of the Year
– matching teams from the Mountain West against teams from the Missouri Valley Conference
in an effort to bolster strength of schedule for both leagues. Match-ups were set in January, 2009 and were based on 2008–09 preseason projections. The MVC won the first Challenge 5–4 as Northern Iowa knocked off Wyoming in the final game.
Throughout the conference season, the MWC offices name a player of the week.
Mountain West Conference
The Mountain West Conference , popularly known as the Mountain West, is the youngest of the college athletic conferences affiliated with the NCAA’s Division I FBS . The MWC officially began operations in July 1999...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
.
Preseason
The Mountain West Conference held its pre-season media day on October 6, 2009 at the The Mtn. studios in Denver, ColoradoDenver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
. The league's media overwhelmingly voted Brigham Young
BYU Cougars men's basketball
The BYU Cougars men's basketball team represents Brigham Young University in NCAA Division I basketball play. Established in 1902, the team has won 30 conference championships and 2 NIT Tournaments , and competed in 26 NCAA Tournaments. It currently competes in the West Coast Conference...
the preaseason #1 and BYU junior guard Jimmer Fredette
Jimmer Fredette
James Taft "Jimmer" Fredette is an American professional basketball player with the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association...
the preseason player of the year.
New Mexico's Roman Martinez was named to the 30-man Lowe's Senior CLASS Award
Lowe's Senior CLASS Award
The Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award is an annual college athletic award in the NCAA Division I. Qualified competitors must be seniors who have remained within their NCAA Division I college for a four-year commitment and achieved excellence in one of nine sports.....
preseason candidate list.
Mountain West Media Poll
| Rank | Team | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BYU (23) | 215 |
| 2 | San Diego State (1) | 166 |
| 3 | UNLV | 161 |
| 4 | Utah | 143 |
| 5 | New Mexico | 141 |
| 6 | Wyoming | 89 |
| 7 | TCU | 82 |
| 8 | Colorado State | 58 |
| 9 | Air Force | 25 |
Preseason awards
Preseason All-MWC team- Jimmer FredetteJimmer FredetteJames Taft "Jimmer" Fredette is an American professional basketball player with the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association...
, BYU - Jonathan TavernariJonathan TavernariJonathan Tavernari is a Brazilian/Italian professional basketball player from São Bernardo do Campo. He currently plays for Pallacanestro Biella in Italy, and is also a member of the Brazilian national basketball team.-College career:...
, BYU - Billy White, San Diego State
- Zvonko Buljan, TCU
- Tre'Von Willis, UNLV
Preseason Player of the Year
- Jimmer Fredette, BYU
Preseason Newcomer of the Year
- Derrick JasperDerrick JasperDerrick Lamar Jasper is an American basketball player for the UNLV Runnin' Rebels who is from San Luis Obispo, California. He is listed as a point guard, but he is versatile enough to also play the shooting guard and small forward positions.-High school:...
, UNLV
Preseason Freshman of the Year
- Kawhi Leonard, San Diego State
Season summary & highlights
- TCU reached the quarterfinals of the NIT Season Tip-OffNIT Season Tip-OffThe NIT Season Tip-Off is an annual college basketball tournament that takes place in November of each year, around the beginning of the season. The first two rounds are held at campus sites and the semifinals and the finals are held at Madison Square Garden. The tournament began in 1985 as the...
, losing to Arizona State, 52–49. - Utah was the runner up in the Las Vegas Invitational2009 Las Vegas InvitationalThe Las Vegas Invitational is an 8 team college basketball tournament held during Thanksgiving of NCAA Division I men's basketball season annually since 2003. The Tournament was held at Valley High School in Las Vegas, The event used to be sponsored by Findlay Toyota, until moving to the current...
, losing to Oklahoma StateOklahoma State Cowboys men's basketballThe Oklahoma State Cowboys basketball team represents Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States in NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. The Cowboys currently compete in the Big 12 Conference.Since 1938, the team has played its home games in Gallagher-Iba Arena...
, 77–55. - UNLV was the runner up in the inaugural Diamond Head ClassicDiamond Head ClassicThe Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic is a three-day invitational college basketball tournament held at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, Hawaii on the campus of the University of Hawaii-Manoa. Each team plays three games, winners facing winners and losers facing losers. The Western...
, losing to Southern California, 67–56. - New Mexico ranks 17th in the Nation for Basketball Attendance. The Lobos averaged a crowd of 13,994. New Mexico was first in the Mountain West with UNLV in second.
Mountain West – Missouri Valley Challenge
2009 marks the inaugural year of the Mountain West - Missouri Valley ChallengeMountain West - Missouri Valley Challenge
The Mountain West – Missouri Valley Challenge is an in-season NCAA college basketball series, matching up teams from the Mountain West Conference and the Missouri Valley Conference...
– matching teams from the Mountain West against teams from the Missouri Valley Conference
Missouri Valley Conference
The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States...
in an effort to bolster strength of schedule for both leagues. Match-ups were set in January, 2009 and were based on 2008–09 preseason projections. The MVC won the first Challenge 5–4 as Northern Iowa knocked off Wyoming in the final game.
Results
- November 13: BYU defeated BradleyBradley Braves men's basketballThe Bradley Braves men's basketball team represents Bradley University, located in Peoria, Illinois, in NCAA Division I basketball competition. They currently compete in the Missouri Valley Conference. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 2006, reaching the...
, 70–60 - November 20: Colorado State lost to Indiana StateIndiana State Sycamores men's basketballThe Indiana State Sycamores basketball is the NCAA Division I men's basketball program of Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana. They currently compete in the Missouri Valley Conference...
, 65–60 - November 21: UNLV defeated Southern IllinoisSouthern Illinois Salukis men's basketballThe Southern Illinois Salukis basketball team represents Southern Illinois University Carbondale in Carbondale, Illinois. The Salukis compete in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Salukis are currently coached by Chris Lowery who led the team to the NCAA tournament in 2004 thru 2007. Lowery was...
, 78–69 - December 5: Air Force lost to Missouri StateMissouri State BearsThe Missouri State Bears and Lady Bears are the athletic teams representing Missouri State University. Missouri State athletics date back to 1908. Missouri State is in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, and most teams compete in the Missouri Valley Conference...
, 58–48 - December 12: TCU lost to Wichita StateWichita State Shockers men's basketballThe Wichita State Shockers basketball team is the NCAA Division I men's basketball program of Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas. They currently compete in the Missouri Valley Conference...
, 80–68 - December 19: New Mexico defeated CreightonCreighton Bluejays men's basketballThe Creighton Bluejays basketball team is the NCAA Division I men's basketball program of Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. They currently compete in the Missouri Valley Conference. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 2007...
, 66–61 - December 19: Utah lost to Illinois StateIllinois State Redbirds men's basketballThe Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball team represents the Illinois State University, located in Normal, Illinois, in NCAA Division I basketball competition.-Season by Season Records:-NCAA Tournament Results:...
, 73–63 - December 22: San Diego State defeated DrakeDrake Bulldogs men's basketballThe Drake Bulldogs men's basketball team represents Drake University, located in Des Moines, Iowa, in NCAA Division I basketball competition.The team's current coach is Mark Phelps, previously an assistant at Arizona State, who was hired after the 2007-08 season...
, 76–73 (OT) - December 23: Wyoming lost to Northern IowaNorthern Iowa Panthers men's basketballThe Northern Iowa Panthers men's basketball team represents the University of Northern Iowa, located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, in NCAA Division I basketball competition...
, 72–54
Rankings
| Coaches Poll | Pre | Wk 1 | Wk 2 | Wk 3 | Wk 4 | Wk 5 | Wk 6 | Wk 7 | Wk 8 | Wk 9 | Wk 10 | Wk 11 | Wk 12 | Wk 13 | Wk 14 | Wk 15 | Wk 16 | Wk 17 | Wk 18 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Force | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Brigham Young | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | 25 | 18 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 16 |
| Colorado State | ||||||||||||||||||||
| New Mexico | RV | RV | RV | 19 | 13 | 19 | 15 | RV | RV | 23 | 15 | 15 | 19 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 10 | ||
| San Diego State | RV | |||||||||||||||||||
| Texas Christian | ||||||||||||||||||||
| UNLV | RV | 21 | 17 | 20 | 23 | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | 25 | 25 | RV | RV | RV | RV | ||||
| Utah | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Wyoming | ||||||||||||||||||||
Weekly awards
MWC Player of the WeekThroughout the conference season, the MWC offices name a player of the week.
| Week | Player of the week |
|---|---|
| November 16 | Jimmer Fredette Jimmer Fredette James Taft "Jimmer" Fredette is an American professional basketball player with the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association... , BYU BYU Cougars men's basketball The BYU Cougars men's basketball team represents Brigham Young University in NCAA Division I basketball play. Established in 1902, the team has won 30 conference championships and 2 NIT Tournaments , and competed in 26 NCAA Tournaments. It currently competes in the West Coast Conference... |
| November 23 | Darington Hobson Darington Hobson Darington Hobson is an American professional basketball player formerly with the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association. He played college basketball for the New Mexico Lobos men's basketball team. Born in Las Vegas, Nevada, Hobson attended five high schools and a junior college... , UNM |
| November 30 | Grant Parker, AFA Air Force Falcons men's basketball The Air Force Falcons men's basketball team represents the United States Air Force Academy, located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in NCAA Division I basketball competition. They play their home games at the Clune Arena and are members of the Mountain West Conference. Their current head coach is... |
| December 7 | Roman Martinez, UNM |
| December 21 | Kawhi Leonard, SDSU San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball The San Diego State Aztecs basketball team is the basketball team that represent San Diego State University Aztecs in San Diego, California. The school's team currently competes in the Mountain West Conference, and play their home games in Viejas Arena... |
| Roman Martinez, UNM | |
| December 28 | Edvinas Ruzgas, TCU TCU Horned Frogs men's basketball The TCU Horned Frogs basketball team represents Texas Christian University, located in Fort Worth, Texas, in NCAA Division I basketball competition. They play their home games at Daniel–Meyer Coliseum and are members of the Mountain West Conference... |
| January 4 | Jimmer Fredette, BYU |
| January 11 | Andy Ogide, CSU Colorado State Rams Colorado State University competes in 16 sponsored intercollegiate sports, including 10 for women and six for men... |
| Jonathan Tavernari Jonathan Tavernari Jonathan Tavernari is a Brazilian/Italian professional basketball player from São Bernardo do Campo. He currently plays for Pallacanestro Biella in Italy, and is also a member of the Brazilian national basketball team.-College career:... , BYU |
|
| January 18 | A.J. Hardeman, UNM |
| January 25 | Tre'Von Willis, UNLV |
| February 1 | Jimmer Fredette, BYU |
| February 8 | Darington Hobson, UNM, and Tre'Von Willis, UNLV |
| February 15 | Kawhi Leonard, SDSU |
| February 22 | Jimmer Fredette, BYU |
| March 1 | Dairese Gary, UNM |
| March 8 | Kawhi Leonard, SDSU |