MWC Commish, Committee Member Craig Thompson Lays Out USU’s Path To Big Dance

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Utah State enters the Mountain West Conference Tournament squarely on the NCAA bubble. The Aggies are currently projected in 81 of the 136 brackets via The Bracket Matrix, so work needs to be done if second-year head coach Craig Smith wants to make a return to the Big Dance.

A man that would know a thing or two about Utah State’s path to the NCAA Tournament is Mountain West Conference Commissioner and NCAA Tournament Selection Committee member Craig Thompson.

Mountain West Conference commissioner Craig Thompson is a member of the NCAA Tournament selection committee, what does he look for in at-large teams?https://t.co/iGSLMyotHw#MWMadness // @kslsports pic.twitter.com/98ek64khOX

— Zak Hicken (@zakhicken) March 5, 2020

Thompson joined KSL Sports’ Sam Farnsworth to discuss what the Aggies need to do in order to make it in the field of 68.

“One guarantee and Craig Smith knows this, win the [conference] tournament and you’re in so there’s no hesitation in question,” Thompson said to KSL Sports.

“You know their wins over Florida and LSU and North Texas — who won Conference USA — some really nice, quality, non-conference wins. They suffered through some injuries and other issues through that November, December time frame and they’re really starting to get it together and have been able to play with their full quasi-healthy roster here the last month or so.”

What Craig Thompson, NCAA Selection Committee look for in “Bubble” teams

The most recent Bracketology projection from Joe Lunardi has Utah State as the team atop the First Four Out. There could be a path for the Aggies without winning the automatic bid from the MWC Tournament to punch their ticket to the dance. But it would then be in the hands of Thompson and the rest of the NCAA Tournament selection committee.

What does the committee look for when selecting teams for the NCAA Tournament?

.@USUBasketball head coach Craig Smith and his team wrapped up practice as they continue preparations for tomorrow’s game in the @MountainWest quarterfinals.

📺 @KSL5TV #AggiesAllTheWay | #MWMadness pic.twitter.com/brUQOWypTz

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 4, 2020

“Generally, there’s a lot that goes into play, whether you’re an offensive-minded team or a defensive-minded team … but I think one of the things I look for is the extremes,” Thompson said. “Who is the best team that you beat and who is the worst loss you suffered? Then try to measure between those two.”

For Utah State right now, the best win is a come-from-behind neutral-site victory over LSU (No. 31) back on November 22nd. The worst loss was against a Quadrant Three team in Air Force (No. 224) on January 7th. That setback was the third of a head-scratching three-game losing streak to open the calendar year.

The Aggies had avoided a second Quad Three loss up until the regular-season finale last week at New Mexico (No. 147). But now the Aggies will have a chance to avenge that defeat in the Quarterfinals of the MWC Tournament on Thursday (7 p.m., CBS Sports Network).

“We gotta win tomorrow night first,” said Utah State’s Sam Merrill. “You can’t look ahead and you can’t get distracted with bubble talk or bracketology or anything. You just gotta focus on one game and the rest will take care of itself.”

No. 2 Utah State vs. No. 7 New Mexico

MWC Tournament Quarterfinals

Las Vegas, Nevada

Tip: 7 p.m. (MT)

TV: CBS Sports Network 

Radio: 1280 AM