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Las Vegas • The winner of Wednesday night's championship game in the Men Who Speak Up MGM Grand Main Event will receive a big, gaudy championship belt similar to those won by boxers and MMA fighters after title fights.
That's somehow fitting, because BYU (4-0) and Valparaiso (4-1) both feature punishing, physical, dominating big men whose play in the 10 p.m. MST tipoff at the MGM Grand Garden Arena will likely determine the title-holder of the tournament's so-called heavyweight bracket.
In BYU's corner is returned missionary Eric Mika, a 6-foot-10, 230-pound sophomore who is quickly re-establishing himself as one of the top post players in the West after having been away from basketball for two years. Mika posted 20 points and 10 rebounds in just 19 foul-plagued minutes as BYU advanced Monday with a 92-62 crushing of Saint Louis.
In Valpo's corner is 6-9, 235-pound senior Alec Peters, a preseason All-America candidate who is averaging 25.4 points and 8.8 rebounds a game. Peters scored 24 points and took over down the stretch as Valpo downed Alabama 68-60 in Monday's other semifinal.
If that name sounds familiar to Cougar fans, it should. Peters scored 15 points last March as Valpo downed BYU 72-70 in the NIT semifinals at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Valpo's David Skara hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 20 seconds remaining to lift the Crusaders to the win.
So revenge will be on the Cougars' minds Saturday night, as well as that unique championship belt.
"That would be cool," said BYU's other starting inside player, Kyle Davis, who had 22 points on 10-of-13 shooting against the Billikens. "[MMA fighter] Conor McGregor got one [recently], too."
Added BYU's Jamal Aytes, a beefed-up presence inside who pitched in 12 points on 4-of-4 shooting from both the field and the free-throw line: "A championship belt? That sounds awesome."
But unlike McGregor's recent bout, this matchup won't be easy.
Led by Peters, Valpo returns four key players from that team that slowed down the Cougars last spring before falling to George Washington in the NIT championship game. Dutchman Shane Hammink, who blocked Chase Fischer's desperation 3-point attempt at the buzzer, is averaging 14.8 points, while Tevonn Walker chips in 8.0 points and 5.0 rebounds and Jubril Adekoya 8.2 points and 5.0 rebounds.
"I am going to watch these two teams," BYU coach Dave Rose said before the Alabama-Valpo game, "and then I am going to hope that the team I don't think is as good wins."
Rose did not get his wish, though, and so will face Valparaiso, which has the bulk inside to seemingly keep pace with Mika, Davis, Aytes and BYU freshman Yoeli Childs. BYU's KenPom rating is at 43, and Valpo's is at 75, so this will be one of those crucial neutral-site matchups that resonates in March.
The Cougars have just two players back who played last spring in the NIT semifinal, Davis and sophomore Nick Emery. Corbin Kaufusi started at center on March 29, but joined the football program shortly after that and won't be available until after the Dec. 21 bowl game in San Diego.
Perhaps Saint Louis coach Travis Ford knew that. The former Oklahoma State coach was impressed by what he saw on Monday.
"That will be a top-20 team by January," Ford predicted. "I really believe that. They have guys who were on missions who are just figuring it out. [BYU] has one of the better inside-out games you will come across."
Twitter: @drewjay —
BYU vs. Valparaiso
P At MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas
Tipoff • Wednesday, 10 p.m. MST
TV • ESPN2 Radio • 1160 AM, 102.7 FM, Sirius XM 143
Records • BYU 4-0, Valpo 4-1
Series history • Valpo leads, 2-1
Last meeting • Valpo 72, BYU 70 (March 29)
About the Crusaders • They defeated Alabama 68-60 in the semifinals of the MGM Grand Main Event late Monday night as star forward Alec Peters scored 24 points. Peters averages 25.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. … Their only loss was at No. 4-ranked Oregon. … Coach Matt Lottich is in his first year, having replaced Bryce Drew, who took the Vanderbilt job.
About the Cougars • They defeated Saint Louis 92-62 on Monday night to run their winning streak to four games. … Eric Mika had 20 points and 10 rebounds and Kyle Davis added 22 points on 10-of-13 shooting in the easy win. Mika is averaging 20.8 points and 11.0 rebounds per game, but is just fourth on the team in minutes played. … They are shooting 48 percent from the field and 29 percent from 3-point range.