Conference still fighting uphill battle over TV

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Jan 31, 2002 | by Tim Mimick

Try as it might, the Mountain West Conference fights an ongoing struggle with television stations. Colorado Springs has been getting its share of the televised men's basketball league games. However, Fort Collins and Denver lost the league package recently, although Fort Collins will get four Colorado State games under a new deal signed Monday. Denver might be back on the league television pact, too, by the end of the season.

"Denver is a huge component for us, especially with our tournament moving to Denver starting in 2004," said Bob Burda, Mountain West Conference assistant commissioner for communications.

With the league's contract with ABC/ESPN highlighted by the "Big Monday" games that tip off at 10:05p.m., the exposure has been OK for a league not even three years old.

Burda said expanding the number of televised games won't be done by altering the basic Saturday-Monday men's schedule. Although playing Wednesday or Thursday might invite a contract, it hasn't been a crowd-pleaser in the league boardrooms.

"That would mean missing more class time and no one wants that," Burda said.

The league has been discussing with an undisclosed network for a women's television deal in 2002-03.

TAKE STATE: According to Air Force men's coach Joe Scott, his team's next opponent might be its toughest matchup while trying to avoid its usual last-place MWC finish. San Diego State has a load of athletes, led by preseason all-MWC selection Randy Holcomb (conference-leading 18.1 points per game). San Diego State is 12-8 overall and 1-4 in conference.

Air Force has a 1-5 league record but two of the setbacks have been by three points each and two others were in overtime. The four- overtime loss Monday night at Wyoming was the academy's 14th in a row in Laramie.

Despite the poor conference record, there have been flickers of hope for Air Force. A troublesome area for years has been shooting, but Air Force ranks fifth in the Mountain West at 47.1 percent from the field.

"If our shooting had been consistent," Scott said, "we'd be 5-1."

CROWD CONTROL: With the 58-50 loss at San Diego State on Saturday night, Air Force posted its closest defeat of the 2002 women's league schedule. The four other losses ranged in margins between 21 and 29 points.

Wyoming (9-8, 2-3) comes to Clune Arena tonight for a continuation of the series that barely went against Air Force a year ago. Wyoming won 58-54 and 68-63 last season.

While a large Air Force throng is expected, Wyoming usually brings a bunch of fans, too.

Helping boost the visitors from Laramie is the enthusiastic crowd of Bacon boosters. The sister duo of Carrie and Christy Bacon are former Harrison High School standouts. Carrie Bacon ranks eighth in the Mountain West in scoring average at 13.9 points.