Conference Tournament Finals tidbits

 I initially put this on Twitter while I was at a work event earlier today, so those that follow both accounts will find this post redundant. However, those that don't will likely find value in this post as it is certainly deserving of its own entry.

UTA defeated Tarleton State in the 2024 WAC Tournament semifinals earlier this morning in an instant classic, earning a spot in the Conference Finals against Grand Canyon University.

Here are some random UT Arlington men's basketball conference tournament fun facts:

-UTA has made the WAC finals in two of their three years in the league. In 2013 and now 2024. -Mavs all-time are 1-6 in conference finals. -The first final was 2982, the second year of the new Southland Conference tourney, a 75-81 loss to then Southwestern Louisiana, now just Louisiana.

-UTA lost their first three finals appearances before getting their first win. In 1991, they lost to Louisiana-Monroe, then Northeast Louisiana, 87-60. In ‘98, an improbable run culminated in an 81-84 loss to Nicholls State.

-UTA’s first and current only win was an 82-79 win over Northwestern State. UTA was a seven seed, despite a great non-conference performance. They beat the fifth seed and the bracket was “destroyed” early, leading to one of the highest seeded finals in SLC history.

-After averaging approximately one finals appearance a decade, the 2010’s saw a much higher rate, but each loss was not terribly close. In 2013, Mavs lost 55-64 versus New Mexico State in the WAC, 2018’s 61-74 loss and 2019’s 64-73 loss, both to Georgia State were the two SBC appearances.

-UTA has a poor conference tournament record overall. The tally stands at 13-25 in the Southland, 6-9 in the Sun Belt, but they are currently 4-2 in the WAC entering tonight's game.

-In fact, UTA never had a winning record in the SLC losing their first game, winning the second and losing the next five. UTA had a two-game win streak in 1998 and a three-game streak in 2008. Those are the only two SLC win streaks. There were six losing streaks of at least two games and the longest was five from 1982 to 1986. There were two four-game slides.

-The Mavs won their first SBC tourney game but lost the second. They were briefly over .500 in 2018 and 2019. However, the finals losses those years dropped them back to .500. They would go one and done their final three years for the end 6-9 record in the SBC.

-Of the ten former coaches, including interims, half went to the end game of the conf tourney: Bob “Snake” LeGrand (‘82), Mark Nixon (‘91), Eddie McCarter (‘98), Scott Cross (‘08, ‘13, ‘18) & Chris Ogden (‘19). K.T. Turner joins the list tonight.

-Only one coach has made multiple appearances.

-Only Georgia State is a multiple-game opponent. UTA has never played anyone in the current WAC in a final. All of 2013’s WAC opponents are no longer in the league.

-Prior to this year, they played Grand Canyon in 2023. Last year’s game against GCU resulted in a 77-82 loss. UTA was the 12th seed, GCU was the fifth. After the five-point win, GCU would get two three-point wins before they won the whole thing against Southern Utah, 84-66.

Tip-off for tonight's game is set for 10:30 pm and can be viewed on ESPN2.