What Is 2007 MWC Men's Basketball Tournament

Overview

The 2007 Mountain West Conference (MWC) Men's Basketball Tournament was the eighth annual postseason event for the conference's top teams. It determined which team would receive the MWC's automatic bid to the 2007 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.

Hosted at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, the tournament featured all eight conference teams competing in a single-elimination format. The event drew strong attendance and marked a pivotal moment for several programs vying for national recognition.

• March 7–10, 2007: The tournament spanned four days, beginning with first-round matchups and culminating in the championship final on March 10.
• Thomas & Mack Center: Located on the campus of UNLV, this 18,000-seat arena has hosted the MWC Tournament multiple times since 2004.
• Eight teams participated: All MWC members at the time—Air Force, BYU, Colorado State, New Mexico, San Diego State, UNLV, Utah, and Wyoming—were included.
• BYU won the title: The Cougars defeated UNLV 76–69 in the final, capturing their second MWC Tournament championship in school history.
• NCAA Tournament berth: The victory secured BYU an automatic qualification to the 2007 NCAA Tournament as the MWC's representative.

How It Works

The MWC Men's Basketball Tournament follows a structured single-elimination format designed to crown a conference champion and award an NCAA bid.

• Format: All eight conference teams participate in a seeded single-elimination bracket, with higher seeds hosting lower seeds in early rounds.
• Seeding: Teams are seeded based on regular-season conference records, with tiebreakers used to determine final rankings.
• First Round: Seeds 5 through 8 play on the first day, with winners advancing to face top-four seeds in the quarterfinals.
• Quarterfinals: Held on March 8, 2007, these games featured matchups like #1 BYU vs. #8 Wyoming and #2 UNLV vs. #7 Air Force.
• Semifinals: On March 9, BYU defeated Utah 66–50, while UNLV beat New Mexico 72–60 to set up the championship clash.
• Championship Game: Played on March 10, 2007, it concluded with BYU’s 76–69 victory, securing the NCAA Tournament bid.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 2007 MWC Tournament compared to previous editions in key metrics:

The 2007 tournament continued the trend of close, competitive games, with BYU reclaiming the title after a one-year absence. It marked the fifth consecutive year the event was held in Las Vegas, reinforcing the city as the conference's preferred host. Attendance averaged over 12,000 per game, reflecting growing fan interest in the MWC as a mid-major basketball conference.

Why It Matters

The 2007 MWC Tournament had lasting implications for member schools, postseason opportunities, and conference visibility on the national stage.

• BYU’s NCAA bid: The Cougars earned a #12 seed in the 2007 NCAA Tournament, where they lost to #5 seed Oregon in the first round.
• UNLV’s near miss: As runner-up, UNLV did not receive an at-large NCAA bid, ending their season with a 21–10 record.
• Conference prestige: The MWC strengthened its reputation as a competitive mid-major league, with multiple teams ranked in national polls that season.
• Player recognition: BYU’s Lee Cummard was named Tournament MVP after averaging 18.3 points per game across three contests.
• Television exposure: The championship game aired on The Mtn. (MountainWest Sports Network), increasing regional visibility for the conference.
• Historical context: This was the last MWC title for BYU before their eventual move to the West Coast Conference in 2011.

The 2007 tournament remains a notable chapter in MWC basketball history, highlighting competitive balance and the stakes of postseason play for mid-major programs.