2010–11 MWC men's basketball season
Encyclopedia
The 2010–11 Mountain West Conference men's basketball season was the 12th season of Mountain West Conference
basketball
. This was the final season for the two Utah
schools in the conference. BYU
will become a member of the West Coast Conference
in most sports, including basketball, while its football program becomes independent. Utah
will join the Pacific-10 Conference, which will change its name to the Pacific-12 with Colorado
joining from the Big 12 Conference
as well. The MWC will also welcome new members in the near future, with Boise State
joining in 2011 and Fresno State and Nevada
following in 2012. BYU
and San Diego State
ended the regular season as Co-Champions. San Diego State earned the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament by defeating BYU in the conference tournament. BYU and UNLV also secured at-large bids into the tournament. Both BYU and SDSU reached the Sweet Sixteen round but were eliminated from play during this round.
studios in Denver, Colorado.
Preseason Player of the Year
Preseason Newcomer of the Year
Preseason Freshman of the Year
Postseason All-MWC team
Player of the year
Newcomer of the Year
Freshman of the Year
Throughout the conference season, the MWC offices name a player of the week.
and were joined by BYU and UNLV as at-large selections. SDSU was given a 2nd seed in the western regional while BYU was a 3rd seed. Colorado State and New Mexico went to the National Invitation Tournament
. In addition, Air Force received an invitation to compete in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament
.
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...
. This was the final season for the two Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
schools in the conference. 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...
will become a member of the West Coast Conference
West Coast Conference
The West Coast Conference is an NCAA collegiate athletics conference consisting of nine member schools across the states of California, Oregon, Utah and Washington....
in most sports, including basketball, while its football program becomes independent. Utah
Utah Utes men's basketball
The University of Utah Utes have consistently been one of the most successful basketball programs in the NCAA. They are currently an NCAA Division I program that plays in the Pacific-12 Conference. The school has made the NCAA Tournament 26 times, which ranks 16th in NCAA history and 3rd behind...
will join the Pacific-10 Conference, which will change its name to the Pacific-12 with Colorado
Colorado Buffaloes
The University of Colorado Boulder sponsors 16 varsity sports teams. Both men's and women's team are called the Buffaloes or Golden Buffaloes . "Lady Buffs" referred to the women's teams beginning in the 1970s, but was officially dropped in 1993...
joining from the Big 12 Conference
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
as well. The MWC will also welcome new members in the near future, with Boise State
Boise State Broncos men's basketball
The Boise State Broncos men's basketball team is the basketball team that represents Boise State University in Boise, Idaho, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Mountain West Conference. The team's most recent appearance in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament was...
joining in 2011 and Fresno State and Nevada
Nevada Wolf Pack men's basketball
The Nevada Wolf Pack basketball program is a college basketball team that represents the University of Nevada, Reno. The team is currently a member of the Western Athletic Conference, which is a Division I conference in the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
following in 2012. BYU
2010–11 BYU Cougars men's basketball team
The 2010–11 BYU Cougars men's basketball team represented Brigham Young University in the 2010–11 college basketball season. This was head coach Dave Rose's sixth season at BYU. The Cougars, in their final season in the Mountain West Conference, played their home games at the Marriott Center...
and San Diego State
2010–11 San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball team
The 2010–11 San Diego State men's basketball team represented San Diego State University in the 2010–11 college basketball season. It was their 12th season in the Mountain West Conference. This was head coach Steve Fisher's twelfth season at San Diego State...
ended the regular season as Co-Champions. San Diego State earned the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament by defeating BYU in the conference tournament. BYU and UNLV also secured at-large bids into the tournament. Both BYU and SDSU reached the Sweet Sixteen round but were eliminated from play during this round.
Preseason
The Mountain West Conference held its pre-season media day on October 12, 2010 at the The Mtn.MountainWest Sports Network
MountainWest Sports Network, informally known as the mtn. , is an American regional sports network dedicated to the Mountain West Conference.-History:...
studios in Denver, Colorado.
Mountain West Media Poll
| Rank | Team | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Diego State 2010–11 San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball team The 2010–11 San Diego State men's basketball team represented San Diego State University in the 2010–11 college basketball season. It was their 12th season in the Mountain West Conference. This was head coach Steve Fisher's twelfth season at San Diego State... (21) |
261 |
| 2 | BYU 2010–11 BYU Cougars men's basketball team The 2010–11 BYU Cougars men's basketball team represented Brigham Young University in the 2010–11 college basketball season. This was head coach Dave Rose's sixth season at BYU. The Cougars, in their final season in the Mountain West Conference, played their home games at the Marriott Center... (5) |
220 |
| 3 | New Mexico (3) | 214 |
| 4 | UNLV | 203 |
| 5 | Colorado State | 132 |
| 6 | Utah | 105 |
| 7 | TCU | 92 |
| 8 | Wyoming | 88 |
| 9 | Air Force | 35 |
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 - Dairese GaryDairese GaryDairese Gary is an American college basketball player, formerly of the New Mexico Lobos men's basketball team...
, New Mexico - Kawhi LeonardKawhi LeonardKawhi Leonard is an American professional basketball small forward with the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association. In 2009 as a senior at Martin Luther King High School in Riverside, California, he was named Mr...
, San Diego State - Malcolm Thomas, San Diego State
- Tre'Von WillisTre'Von WillisTre'Von Willis is basketball player for the UNLV Rebels mens basketball team. He transferred to UNLV from Memphis.-High school:...
, UNLV
Preseason Player of the Year
- Jimmer Fredette, BYU
Preseason Newcomer of the Year
- Drew Gordon, Jr., New Mexico
Preseason Freshman of the Year
- Kyle Collinsworth, BYU
Postseason 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 - Andy Ogide, Colorado State
- Dairese Gary, New Mexico
- D.J. Gay, San Diego State
- Kawhi LeonardKawhi LeonardKawhi Leonard is an American professional basketball small forward with the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association. In 2009 as a senior at Martin Luther King High School in Riverside, California, he was named Mr...
, San Diego State
Player of the year
- Jimmer Fredette, BYU
Newcomer of the Year
- Drew Gordon Jr., New Mexico
Freshman of the Year
- Kendall Williams, New Mexico
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 | 25 | 21 | 18 | 23 | 16 | 14 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 8 | ||
| Colorado State | ||||||||||||||||||||
| New Mexico | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | |||||||||||||
| San Diego State | RV | RV | 22 | 19 | 15 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 6 | ||
| Texas Christian | ||||||||||||||||||||
| UNLV | RV | RV | RV | 23 | 19 | 22 | RV | RV | RV | RV | 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 15 | Kawhi Leonard, SDSU 2010–11 San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball team The 2010–11 San Diego State men's basketball team represented San Diego State University in the 2010–11 college basketball season. It was their 12th season in the Mountain West Conference. This was head coach Steve Fisher's twelfth season at San Diego State... |
| November 22 | Kawhi Leonard, SDSU |
| November 29 | Jimmer Fredette Jimmer Fredette James Taft "Jimmer" Fredette is an American professional basketball player with the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association... , BYU 2010–11 BYU Cougars men's basketball team The 2010–11 BYU Cougars men's basketball team represented Brigham Young University in the 2010–11 college basketball season. This was head coach Dave Rose's sixth season at BYU. The Cougars, in their final season in the Mountain West Conference, played their home games at the Marriott Center... , and Chace Stanback, UNLV 2010–11 UNLV Runnin' Rebels basketball team The 2010–11 UNLV Runnin' Rebels basketball team represented the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The team was coached by Lon Kruger, returning for his seventh year with the Runnin' Rebels. They played their home games at the Thomas & Mack Center on UNLV's main campus in Las Vegas, Nevada and are a... |
| December 6 | Malcolm Thomas, SDSU |
| December 13 | Jimmer Fredette, BYU |
| December 20 | Malcolm Thomas, SDSU |
| December 27 | Travis Franklin, CSU Colorado State Rams men's basketball The Colorado State Rams men's basketball team represents Colorado State University, located in Fort Collins, Colorado, in NCAA Division I basketball competition. They play their home games at the Moby Arena and are members of the Mountain West Conference. Their current head coach is Tim Miles.-NCAA... |
| January 3 | Jimmer Fredette, BYU |
| January 10 | Jimmer Fredette, BYU, and Malcolm Thomas, SDSU |
| January 17 | Jimmer Fredette, BYU |
| January 24 | Jimmer Fredette, BYU |
| January 31 | Andy Ogide, CSU, and Drew Gordon, New Mexico 2010–11 New Mexico Lobos men's basketball team The 2010–11 Division I University of New Mexico Lobos men's basketball team represented the University of New Mexico as a member of the Mountain West Conference... |
| February 7 | Jimmer Fredette, BYU, and Kawhi Leonard, SDSU |
| February 14 | Jackson Emery Jackson Emery Jackson Emery is an American basketball player that played for the BYU Cougars men's basketball team.Emery was born in Salt Lake City and grew up in Alpine, Utah. He earned several accolades for his basketball performance in high school, leading his team to a state championship and being named... , BYU, and D.J. Gay, SDSU |
| February 21 | Malcolm Thomas, SDSU |
| February 28 | Jimmer Fredette, BYU, and Tre'Von Willis, UNLV |
| March 7 | Drew Gordon, UNM |
Post season berths
A record tying 6 teams received post season berths. San Diego State was the conferences automatic qualifier to the 2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The following sites were selected to host each round of the 2011 tournament:First Four*March 15 and 16**University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, OhioSecond and third rounds*March 17 and 19**Verizon Center, Washington, D.C....
and were joined by BYU and UNLV as at-large selections. SDSU was given a 2nd seed in the western regional while BYU was a 3rd seed. Colorado State and New Mexico went to the National Invitation Tournament
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
. In addition, Air Force received an invitation to compete in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament
CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament
The CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament created in 2009 by College Insider.com. It now hosts 24 participating teams.-Champions:-2009:...
.