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LARAMIE - Larry Shyatt waited to speak extensively about it, and he didn't hold anything back.

The University of Wyoming men's basketball coach spoke on behalf of the other 10 coaches in the Mountain West Monday about the league's decision to change the format of the MW men's and women's basketball tournament starting in 2017.

The league announced Dec. 18 that its board of directors - consisting of presidents from member schools - voted to change the format to eight teams for both the men's and women's tournament.

Since the MW formed in 1999-2000, all teams participated in the men's and women's tournaments.

Shyatt talked for about 20 minutes to media members on a conference call, and then took questions. He called the decision "shocking," and that it "stripped, removed and/or eliminated student-athletes and coaches their opportunity to qualify for the NCAA Tournament."

He said that 28 percent of men's and women's players and coaches in the league have had that opportunity removed.

"Moreover, the way in which these student-athletes and coaches were to find out, in an age of student-athlete opportunity and welfare is pursuant, becomes even more disappointing and embarrassing," Shyatt said.

"As chairman of the men's basketball coaches, I am on the phone every two to three days each and every week to stay in constant communication with anything related to our student-athletes and discussions that are relevant. When the presidents and athletic directors met a couple weeks ago there was no, I repeat no communication or dialogue to discuss any such action.

"I spoke constantly with our assistant commissioner for men's basketball who also had no communication or dialogue about the action that would take place. In an age of mass communication it's embarrassing that perhaps the most intelligent group of men and women at our institutions would choose to eliminate, strip and remove from three teams the opportunity they have always worked two semesters for without any discussion or opportunity to speak to not one single coach or student-athlete involved."

Shyatt said the coaches and student-athletes were "bamboozled" by the league and its decision-making process.

The news release from the MW Dec. 18 stated the MW Board of Directors approved a recommendation from its Competition, Ethics and Sportsmanship Committee to change the format to eight teams.

"The decision by the Board to feature the top eight men's and women's teams is consistent with a broader Mountain West Conference initiative emphasizing performance-based competitive excellence," MW Commissioner Craig Thompson said in the release.

"Similar approaches are being implemented in other MW championships based upon the best interests of those particular sports. This most recent action will increase the importance of our regular-season basketball competition and is a vehicle to enhance the overall success of our basketball enterprise."

Added Shyatt: "Could no one in the room perhaps suggest that we could 'General Patton' the situation and look at all the other options as to not strip, remove and eliminate these student-athletes' opportunity to qualify for the NCAA tournament. What was the rush? A week, a month, three months to find perhaps yet another alternative as to not foil these student-athletes' dreams."

Shyatt said Thompson told him the reason for the change, which also included keeping the tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas through 2019 - the home arena for MW member UNLV - was financial and "something similar to what some other sports in our league were experiencing."

Volleyball eliminated its conference tournament a couple of years ago.

The MW gets a good financial deal as far as "renting" the Thomas & Mack Center for the MW Tournament.

Shyatt listed 20 conferences who have all teams play in their league tournament. The ones that don't include the Ohio Valley, Southland and Sun Belt, generally one-bid leagues to the 68-team NCAA Tournament.

The MW has been a multiple-bid conference to the NCAAs every year but 2001, and has had three or more in five of the last six seasons.

"It is both an insult and embarrassing, especially that the surprise vote and action was taken with no interest in searching for the student-athletes and coaches involved," Shyatt said.

"In situations where there is such a surprise with no notice, no inclusion and no communication, not one word uttered to an assistant commissioner, there seems to be a degree of behind-the-scenes plotting by someone or someones as to not let the cat out of the bag.

"We coaches are often criticized by making quick, emotional decisions and often are asked to go up to our athletic directors about certain issues. When we deal with our student-athletes, however, we don't expect them always to come to us with their concerns, interests and issues. We go to them both individually and collectively. In my opinion that is how trust and communication works best for all."

The lowest seed to win the MW Tournament was the sixth seed in 2006. Shyatt used the example of Connecticut in 2011, who entered the Big East Tournament as the ninth seed, won the tournament and went on to win the NCAA Tournament.

He also used his UW team last season. UW was among the MW leaders for much of the season, but ended up being the tournament's fourth seed after injuries and illness caused late-season struggles. UW won its first-ever MW Tournament title in any sport by winning three games in three days.

"What if our team had been a solid fourth place, slipped to eighth or ninth and was now stripped, eliminated or removed from that deserved opportunity," Shyatt said.

"Also, what about three or four-way ties in the final week of conference play? What do the fans and family members of those student-athletes plan in terms of flights, hotels, tickets, etc.? Will they be reimbursed? In an age of fiscal responsibility, do we now choose to neglect those monetary needs?

"In my opinion, this action was wrong, non-inclusive and quite opposite to where student-athletes' welfare has gone in the last few years. If we can take action for unlimited nutrition and meals and add the cost of attendance money for student-athletes, why would we limit the men's basketball conference tournament opportunities? Simply to save money?"

Shyatt said there has not been any more dialogue between him and the league office about this move since it was announced Dec. 18. When asked if this decision could be changed, or more discussion could occur about alternatives, Shyatt said: "I don't have the answers. I hope and I pray that those dreams are restored for those young ladies and those young men. ... This hurt. This was like a dagger."