The Mountain West Conference race is over. Well, let's take a hunch that BYU, winner of 46 in a row at home heading to Wednesday's senior night, will pounce on Wyoming and capture at least a share of its second consecutive regular-season title.

This is the last week of the 16-game conference slate, with the whole deal wrapping up Saturday (the Cougars will be at TCU, where they've won the past two years; winning both games this week assures BYU the outright title).

After those games, the MWC offices will invite two media members from each of the nine markets to vote. This potentially includes beat writers from various newspapers and radio play-by-play members from the schools.

They'll join the MWC coaches in voting on the top 15 players in the league (first through third teams), plus five special categories.

The results will be announced next Monday. But it's about time to look at would could happen.

Some of the decisions appear to be much closer to locks than others. Other votes may pend on the final games.

In order of likelihood, from up-in-the-air to consider-it-done, let's take a look at the races for prizes.

(One note: Stats used on players only take into account games against MWC opponents through March 1.)

Coach of the year

The most fun category this season, because it could be influenced by a few philosophies; none of which are wrong.

• Steve Alford, New Mexico: The first-year coach came from Iowa, where he was a lame duck, and has made the most of senior J.R. Giddens. If the Lobos would've beaten BYU last Tuesday (the Cougs won by a point in overtime) it would have shaken up the league race even more. Alford also took over a discombobulated program that lost its top player from last year, forward Tony Danridge, to a broken leg before the season started.

• Lon Kruger, UNLV: Picked to finish second, but did anyone really expect the Rebels to be in the NCAA tournament picture after they went to the Sweet 16 and lost a lot of talent to graduation?

• Jeff Reynolds, Air Force: In his first year, had only one starter return but still has Falcons -- who many expected to be a lot worse -- respectably around .500.

• Dave Rose, BYU: Picked to finish first in the MWC in October, it's possible that the Cougars will have two first-team members and the best record ever achieved since MWC basketball started in 2000. Could he possibly win again?

• What should happen: This one will take the weekend to play out, though figure Kruger is the favorite. Rose has won the past two years, plus having so high of expectations before the year it's difficult to figure his coaching will be rewarded. It could -- it's been outstanding -- but don't count on it.

• Franchuk's vote: It's changed often in the past few weeks -- even had an eye on Utah's Jim Boylen at one point, until this disastrous fade -- and will come down to the final week. I'd probably stick with Kruger, though it's been surprisingly tempting to go with Reynolds. He has been quietly impressive in his own right, considering what little experience he's had to work with.

Defensive player of the year

A "hunch" category, particularly because it can be influenced by what voters might have seen (especially in person) on a typical night. Cold, hard statistics (like steals and blocked shots) don't always have their way.

• Lee Cummard, BYU: Typically gets the opponent's top scorer, and the Cougars have consistently shut down that part of MWC foes. But questionable whether voters will consider the 6-foot-6 junior for two major categories (read on to see the other one).

• Joe Darger, UNLV: At 6-7, he's been the Rebels' starting center when needed.

• J.R. Giddens, New Mexico: Top MWC rebounder; made the biggest strides of shoring up what was once a very weak part of his game.

• Rene Rougeau, UNLV: Leads MWC in steals (2.57 per game) on most feisty defense. The 6-6 junior can be most remembered for an incredible block from behind of Cummard in January.

• What should happen: Really hard to say how this one will go down. There could be other candidates, too, because beauty can be seen in a lot of ways. No major surprise if Cummard wins.

• Franchuk's vote: Darger. He's sacrificed a lot, even some offense possibly, to play big for a short-but-fast team.

Newcomer of the year

A not-so-obvious category because the top new guys (not freshman) aren't on the top teams.

• Ryan Amoroso, San Diego State: The panel's selection before the season is still 11th in scoring (12.9) and second in rebounding (7.3) as a respectable 6-8 junior forward who last played at Marquette.

• Henry Salter, TCU: Made a definite impact on team that has been miserable its first two years as part of MWC. Ongoing suspension for conduct detrimental to team, since Feb. 26, will probably be huge knock on the 6-4 guard who hasn't been nearly as stellar the past month in league play.

• Marcus Walker, Colorado State: Tops in scoring (19.6), but doesn't a player have to win at least one conference game to be a success?

• What should happen: Walker's been tough, but Amoroso has been all-around solid. He is tops of the new guys in field-goal percentage (51.3), which is fifth in the MWC.

• Franchuk's vote: Amoroso's consistency is too hard to ignore.

Freshman of the year

A two-youngster race.

• Jimmer Fredette, BYU: Off the bench, he's provided a spark especially from 3-point range. Coaches giving the guard more freedom to handle the ball has only enhanced his chances to show skill. Part of solid group of Cougar frosh, but his numbers stand out most.

• Billy White, San Diego State: Doesn't look or play like a 13th-grader, and that's a compliment.

• What should happen: White, the youngest player in the league's top 20 of minutes played, is going to be too hard to ignore even though the highly anticipated New Yorker Fredette was the preseason pick.

• Franchuk's vote: White locked it up with a recent player-of-the-week showcase in which he scored 17 of his game-high 19 points in the second half to help the Aztecs snap a three-game losing streak at Wyoming. He followed up with a solid effort against the Cougars.

Player of the year

Down to a pair, and it could stay that way on the final tally as well.

• Wink Adams, UNLV: Second in scoring, ninth in assists and he also shoots 81 percent at the line -- really solid 6-foot guard.

• Lee Cummard, BYU: Even on a really quiet night, like Saturday's blowout of Air Force, he had 10 points, eight rebounds, three blocks and three assists.

• J.R. Giddens, New Mexico: Amazing final-year turnaround. Been everything Lobos needed, without any of the headaches of past seasons in Albuquerque and Lawrence, Kan. But will rough game in critical time, last week against Cougars, ruin his chance at this award?

• Lorrenzo Wade, SDSU: Provides biggest "wow" factor sometimes with athleticism. Scored 20-plus points in six MWC games, including twice against BYU (average 24.5).

• What should happen: Barring an amazing two-game spurt by some other candidate, this is Cummard's award to lose. Coaches have raved about him all year and all of the media except those who follow TCU has seen at least one good game from the 6-6 junior (he had four points in the first meeting, an easy win at Provo.)

• Franchuk's vote: Cummard. Granted, seeing him all season helps but his across-the-board numbers will get support from even those who haven't seen him half that amount.

Don't be surprised if somehow the award is split with Giddens, however, who has been part of four player-of-the-week honors this year to Cummard's two.

Of the 15 season-long Monday honors, six have been shared -- including 3-of-9 made during conference play.