This upstart conference has been making noise for a few years now. This year they are especially strong, and have as many as far teams that could have a claim on a tournament spot, though they almost certainly won’t get that many.

Best Team – Utah. I don’t know what is in the water in Utah, but I want to drink some. First their football team flexes their muscles, then their basketball team does. They had a couple of blips along the way, but impressive wins over Gonzaga and LSU show that they are for real.

Worst Tournament Team – UNLV. A friend of mine is an alum and a blindly loyal fan. He’s very frustrated by this team – lots of talent but no heart to go with it. I don’t disagree – especially as the season has progressed. They have played themselves from virtual lock to longshot to even get in.

True Contenders – The winner won’t come from this group, but Utah and BYU could certainly factor into the second weekend, and any team that gets  in from this group will be a tough draw. They are well seasoned by brutally tough conference play and some very tough conference buildings to play in.

Team That Bugs Me – Maybe I’m getting soft, but I don’t really have a problem with any team here. In fact, I kind of have a loose affection for the conference in general.

Potential to Rise Up – New Mexico. The Lobos won their last five games to play themselves into consideration. They beat all the major contenders in their conference at least once. They didn’t have a hugely successful non-conference schedule, but they weren’t afraid to challenge themselves. This is the kind of team that could get hot and break some opposing hearts.

Best Player – Luke Nevill, Utah. The senior center is a beast. He is the runaway leader in points and rebounds for his team, and he is defensively strong enough to earn conference defensive player of the year honors. It’s not often that a guy who is 7’2″ has a game this complete and polished – especially one who most people haven’t heard of.

Player to Watch – Jonathan Tavernari, BYU. The Brazilian took a leap forward this year, and put up some pretty solid numbers. He played even better as the season progressed, tallying three double-doubles in his last seven games.