Seen and heard in SD: On Mountain West's 'ugly breakup,' SD fan events and stray photographers

The league held an unusually hype-free preseason media day in Las Vegas in October 2023, then went through a final 2023-24 season in which coaches, players, and TV analysts alike all said it was “sad” to see the league disappear as everyone had known it for decades.

But with the Pac-12 on the verge of coming back to life in a new form next season, it is causing sore feelings elsewhere: The resurrected league took five football-playing schools from the Mountain West, including Utah State, plus added Texas State and non-football member Gonzaga to join holdovers Oregon State and Washington State.

Not surprisingly, the Mountain West did not sent a representative to accompany Utah State for its NCAA Tournament games, as conferences typically do, even though the Aggies received the league’s only NCAA bid and happened to be playing in a Mountain West venue.

“Well, let's call it like it is -- a very ugly breakup,” Utah State coach Jerrod Calhoun said. “I'm not in on those meetings. It's way above my pay grade. … But I think we did the best we could the way we represented this conference, beating a Big East school (Villanova) and taking a 1 seed to a pretty close game.

“We can only do our part. We can't worry about that stuff.”

Calhoun said the history of the Mountain West was “storied,” citing accomplishments by coaches at San Diego State, New Mexico, Boise State, Colorado State and Utah State.

“The history of this league is really rich,” Calhoun said. “It's a basketball conference. It really is. The fans, the environments, it's been a joy to coach in for two years.”

Go-to guy

While Brayden Burries has become the Wildcats’ leading scorer and hit a dagger 3-pointer late in Sunday’s game, Calhoun says somebody else will have the ball in his hands if UA keeps rolling in the NCAA Tournament.

Namely, the Big 12’s Player of the Year, Jaden Bradley.

“If they're going to win a national championship or get to the Final Four, in my opinion, Bradley's going to get them there,” Calhoun said. “I really believe that. Games are going to be going down in the final two, three minutes. They're going to put him in a high pick-and-roll.

“Their schemes aren't that complicated. It's going to be a side-ball screen with a duck-in or a middle pick-and-roll and let him get downhill. And he made those winning plays tonight. He got to the foul line at the end.”

Mouthful of UA events

Between UA’s large Southern California alumni base and fans that traveled over from Arizona, the Wildcats not only enjoyed a large crowd at Viejas Arena but kept Arizona athletic director Desiree Reed-Francois busy – and full – at various functions throughout the weekend.

“I think I’ve had so many meals, I probably put on 10 pounds between breakfasts, two lunches a day and dinner,” she said. “But it’s been fantastic because there’s so many great alums and Wildcat supporters.”

Out of bounds

UA statistician Jay Gonzales worked the San Diego games as a “Floor Photo Steward,” keeping watch over the photographers who squeezed into tiny spaces along each baseline, but found the job was more than that.

Gonzales said he probably spent more time talking to cheer coaches and keeping their personnel off the floor, while a photographer from the marketing firm of Kansas’ Darryn Peterson also aimed unsuccessfully to get a vest that would allow him floor access.

Only team photographers are allowed on the floor before and after games, and only team videographers, as well as those representing the arena and the NCAA, are allowed to shoot live video since CBS holds the media rights for all NCAA Tournament games.

Quotable

“They live in the paint. They chew the paint up. They play '80s, '90s basketball. The number of physical plays in the game, we haven't seen that all year.”

 Utah State coach Jerrod Calhoun on Arizona.

Also quotable

“I just know I feel good when he's on the court. He's got great instincts. M-O stands for mobility at 7'2". And he does a great job contesting shots up high.”

 UA coach Tommy Lloyd, on center Motiejus Krivas

The big number

474 – Dollars per seat asked for the cheapest pair of seats at Viejas Arena about 15 minutes before the Kansas-St. John’s game tipped off Sunday.