Mountain West announces changes to future basketball tournaments

COLORADO SPRINGS — The Mountain West announced it will make changes for the men's and women's basketball tournaments in the coming years, beginning in 2019, based on the recommendations of an eight-person committee.

Next year, the women's tournament will begin a day before the men's tournament, with the championship game given more of a highlight appearance as it will be played two days earlier, Wednesday, March 13.

The women's game will follow the three men's first-round game played that day, allowing for all 11 of the member institutions and their fans to be able to see the contest in Las Vegas. In year's past, and including this year, the women's championship is played on Friday before the…