We hope you watched the WAC finals

How would you like to be Greg Graham's agent right now? It's fascinating how the worm turns -- not only will the Boise administrators need to re-up Graham but with a nice raise -- not that, to be fair, such wasn't in the plans already. This despite a few hot air Bronco fans somehow believing a Coach K-alike is panting to come to Boise or that Dean Smith would come out of retirement to pursue the Bronco head coaching position. Greg Graham is one of the good guys in the profession and now he has the leverage.

Speaking of such, you have to pull for Matt Bauscher. A former walk-on who thoroughly understands his strengths and limitations plus his role on the team, he is one of those cerebral types we love to watch, seemingly always in the right place at the right time and such doesn't happen on its own. Opportunistic guys like him put themselves in the right position to favorably affect a game -- it's not happenstance.

You also have to love Matt Nelson's footwork and positioning -- he puts on a big man clinic.

We are so glad that Reggie Larry's airball freethrow ultimately didn't matter. The kid is a warrior and is amazingly effective among the trees for being just for 6-5.

In the Department-Of-Full-Disclosure, we have to admit we expected New Mexico State to win this one. Even after the game began and NMSU was down by double figures, we anticipated the Aggie athleticism and deeper bench would still prevail. Sometimes, it's difficult to factor in greater heart. That plus better shot selection. We can't quantify it but we have a sense -- it's just a feeling -- that New Mexico State may have actually been less effective than possible because of having too many players in the rotation -- too much talent -- leading to not necessarily looking to its seniors at crucial moments or for crucial shots. Our preference is the ball in the hands of Fred Peete or Justin Hawkins. However, maybe it was simply better free throw shooting overall that did the trick and nothing else.

Tri-umph! Broncos going to the Big Dance after a triple-overtime victory in WAC title game
Boise State breaks a school record for wins and an NCAA tourney drought in victory over NMSU
Nick Jezierny
Idaho Statesman
March 16, 2008

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Need any more proof that this Boise State men's basketball team is the best in school history?

The Broncos won their school-record 25th game Saturday night in the toughest of settings with the highest of stakes on the line - an NCAA Tournament bid.

Boise State outlasted New Mexico State 107-102 in triple overtime on the Aggies' home court in front of 10,921 to win its first WAC Tournament title and the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

"I'm proud of our guys - they hung tough," BSU coach Greg Graham said. "At times people sold them short, but they wouldn't give up. We've hung in there and raised the bar forever at Boise State."

It is BSU's first appearance in the Big Dance since 1994, a span of 14 years. That's how long it seemed to take for the Broncos to finally sew up Saturday night's game.

"I feel like crying. I feel like puking. I don't know what to do," said forward Tyler Tiedeman, who scored 17 points and made five huge 3-pointers before fouling out in the third overtime. "We're going dancing, and that's all that matters..."

Go here for the remainder.

OR

Aggies lose triple-OT thriller
Jason Groves
Las Cruces Sun-News
3/16/2008

LAS CRUCES — The Aggies rode their seniors for two years, including 55 minutes of postseason basketball on Saturday at the Pan American Center.

Fourth-seeded Boise State outlasted No. 3 New Mexico State University 107-102 in three overtimes to win the school's first Western Athletic Conference Tournament in the highest scoring game in WAC Tournament history.

The Broncos secured their first NCAA Tournament berth since 1994, while the Aggies hope to land one of 32 berths in the Postseason NIT or the inaugural 16-team College Basketball Invitational.

"I'm not sure what the administration's views are," Aggies head coach Marvin Menzies said. "I think we got a pretty good record and we got to the conference final so I think we should get a bid."

The NIT selection occurs tonight at 5 p.m.

"I'm extremely honored and proud to coach these seniors into this final conference championship game," Menzies said.

In the third overtime with the game tied at 92, the Aggies went to the capable shoulders of senior center Hatila Passos for much of the period. Passos finished with 15 points and 15 rebounds...

Go here for the remainder.

PLUS

Broncos rule, and it's been a wild ride
Brian Murphy
Idaho Statesman
3/16/08

LAS CRUCES, N.M. — New rule: ESPN is obligated to carry every Boise State athletic contest. ESPNU-Can't-Believe- It, sponsored by Maalox. The nation will watch.

New rule: Boise State fans must stop calling for Greg Graham to be fired. And instead drop a bottle of Tums and an apology in the mail for him.

New rule: Every child born in Boise between now and the Broncos' first NCAA Tournament game in 14 years must be named either Reggie or Larry. And every woman should pray for a labor shorter - and easier on the stomach - than the Broncos' triple-overtime classic in the WAC Tournament against host New Mexico State.

The Broncos don't make it easy on their fans or themselves, but as evidenced by some spastic postgame dancing (Michael Flatley need not worry), they are finally going to the biggest dance around:

The NCAA Tournament.

Reggie Larry sat on the Broncos' bench and cried tears of joy. Larry, the tournament MVP, scored a career-high 31 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and left exhausted by his 48-minute virtuoso performance Saturday night. I think Georgia played fewer minutes Saturday - and the Bulldogs won twice at the SEC Tournament.

"I told you I was going to do whatever I can to get this done, no matter what it is, no matter what it takes," Larry said, his body aching and tears trickling down his cheeks.

New rule: There is crying in basketball...

Go here for the remainder.

AND

Broncos, Aggies play a classic in title game
Felix Chavez
Las Cruces Sun-News
3/16/2008

LAS CRUCES - What else would you expect but a triple overtime thriller in the Western Athletic Conference Tournament final?

The regular season featured a four-way tie for the regular season title between Boise State, New Mexico State, Utah State and Nevada, which all finished with a 12-4 mark.

The aforementioned teams consequently made the semifinals of the WAC Tournament. On Saturday night in the title game, Boise State got it done 107-102 in a game that certainly had all the beauty of what March Madness and college basketball is about.

The Aggies, who were hosting the tournament for the second straight year, looked like a beaten team early in the game when they got down 21-7. They still looked beaten with 7:46 left in the contest when Boise State went up 61-48 after a 3-pointer.

But NMSU is a team that has gone through a lot on and off the court this season and it wasn't going to get blown out in its own building.

The Aggies eventually went ahead 71-70 on a Jonathan Gibson 3-pointer. But Boise State's Reggie Larry forced the first overtime time with a free throw.

Then the game became a grind it out, emotion-packed affair.

Boise State somehow survived after losing starters Matt Nelson and Tyler Tiedeman to fouls. And how about Boise State guard Anthony Thomas and his clutch play in the third overtime? The sophomore guard foolishly fouled NMSU's Hatila Passos with 3.3 seconds left in the first overtime and Passos converted the three-point play to tied the game at 80 and force a second overtime. But in overtime three, Thomas scored seven points, including a huge three-point play with 42.6 seconds left to put the Broncos up 102-97.

The Thomas play was the final twist and turn of a game that had plenty. Saturday's game was one you didn't want to miss a play, because something big was sure to happen if you did...

Go here for the remainder.