Northwest Notes
Mountain West announces format for 2014 hoop tourneys
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - With the addition of San Jose State and Utah State this year, the Mountain West Conference reorganized how the annual tournaments would be structured next March in Las Vegas.
All 22 teams, 11 men's and 11 women's, will advance to the annual championship event held at UNLV's Thomas & Mack Center March 10-15. The women will start the tournament off beginning Monday, March 10, with their first round matches featuring the six lowest seeded teams. The second day, Tuesday, will also feature the women's bracket as the three winners from Monday join the top five seeds in the quarterfinals.
On Wednesday, March 12, the men's portion of the tournament starts as the No. 6 through No. 11 seeds square off in the first round games. Thursday will feature the quarterfinal games for the men as the top five seeds join the action.
Friday will see the semifinals for both brackets with the women playing in the afternoon session followed by the two men's semifinals in the evening session. Both championships will be played Saturday, March 15, in the Thomas & Mack Center.
The 2014 version of the tournament will mark the third for Boise State. This past season the Bronco men entered the competition as the No. 5 seed while the women were the No. 7. The Boise State women advanced to the 2012 semifinals in their Mountain West Tournament debut.
Boise State men's tennis coach inducted to Idaho hall of fame
BOISE - Boise State men's tennis coach Greg Patton was inducted into the Idaho Tennis Association Hall of Fame on May 31, honoring his career at the collegiate and international levels.
Patton boasts a 731-338 career coaching through 32 years as a head coach at the NCAA Division I level and currently ranks fifth in the nation for most active wins by a Division I coach. He has spent the majority of his career at Boise State, amassing a 380-145 record while winning 10 conference championships and garnering 11 conference coach of the year honors and was recognized at the NCAA Coach of the Year in 1997.
Patton also coached the U.S. Boys' National Team from 1998-2003 and the U.S. Collegiate National Team from 2009-12. Prior to his time at Boise State, he coached at UC Irvine from 1979-92.
The Broncos finished the 2013 season with a 20-10 overall record and qualified for the NCAA championship after winning the Mountain West tournament in a thrilling 4-3 final against New Mexico. Junior Andy Bettles also qualified for the NCAA singles championship.
Boise State alum Steve Appleton was also a member of the 2013 class.