Springs Times

AROUND THE MOUNTAIN WEST

• A total of six Mountain West squads are playing in the 2023 postseason. Four teams (Boise State, Nevada, San Diego State and Utah State) earned bids to the NCAA tournament. New Mexico received a bid to play in the National Invitation Tournament, while San José State accepted an invitation to play in College Basketball Invitational.
• Four teams in the NCAA tournament marks the second time in league history with back-to-back seasons of four or more NCAA tournament bids. The MW had four in 2012 and five in 2013.
• This marks the fifth-straight NCAA tournament that the MW has had multiple bids and the 20th time in Conference history to have two or more teams earn bids.
• This is the eighth time since 2000 that the Mountain West has had six or more teams playing in the postseason for the second year in a row.
• With four teams in the NCAA tournament, the Mountain West has 59 NCAA appearances in league history.
• With New Mexico's bid to the 2023 NIT, the Mountain West has made 33 NIT appearances in Conference history.
• With this season’s appearance in the postseason, the Aztecs are competing in the NCAA tournament for the 15th time in program history and the 12th time since the Mountain West’s inception in 1999-2000. This marks SDSU’s third-straight NCAA tournament appearance.
• The Broncos return to the NCAA postseason for the second year in a row, marking the third time that Boise State has made back-to-back March Madness appearances in program history. This is Boise State’s ninth NCAA tournament appearance in program history and fourth since joining the Mountain West in 2011.
• The Aggies are making their 23rd overall NCAA tournament appearance and third since joining the Mountain West in 2013. Utah State is making its first NCAA appearance since earning back-to-back bids in 2019 and 2021.
• The Wolf Pack are dancing for the first time since 2019. This marks the 10th NCAA appearance in program history and the fourth bid since joining the Mountain West in 2012.
• New Mexico is making its 20th NIT appearance and first since 2011. The Lobos were the NIT runner-up in 1964, reached the semifinals in 1990 and advanced to the quarterfinals six other times, most recently in 2001.
• San José State is making its first postseason appearance since 2011 and second in the College Basketball Invitational. The Spartans are making their sixth postseason appearance in program history.
• SJSU's Omari Moore was named a finalist for the 2022-23 Lute Olson National Player of the Year Award presented annually to the nation's top Division I player.
• San José State head coach Tim Miles is one of 20 finalists for the 2022-23 Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year award.
• Utah State head coach Ryan Odom has been named a finalist for the 2022-23 Skip Prosser Man of the Year award finalist, as announced by CollegeInsider.com.