BYU Has a Golden Chance to Overcome NCAA Tournament Struggles
It’s a fresh year with a new head coach for BYU, but once again, they find themselves facing an 11-seed. It’s another opportunity to rid themselves of the NCAA Tournament ghosts that have plagued the Cougars.
The fact that BYU has been a No. 6 seed in three of the past five years, including their last three tournament appearances, is an accomplishment. Securing a single-digit seed is no small achievement.
However, this year, that fact offers no comfort. BYU basketball has its demons. Big ones.
The Cougars have been 0-for-2 as a No. 6 seed in their last two attempts, falling to 11-seeds in both contests (UCLA in 2017, for example).
In total, BYU has not won a single NCAA Tournament game since 2012, when they triumphed over Iona in the First Four. However, that victory is somewhat misleading, as it did not occur in the Round of 64.
To be honest, the Cougars haven’t won an NCAA Tournament game outside of the First Four since their memorable 2011 campaign with Jimmer Fredette.
The last time BYU won a non-First Four tournament game, Barack Obama was in his first term as president, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 hadn’t even hit theaters, and the iPhone 4 was the latest model on the market.
Back then, Jimmer Fredette scored 34 points to lead BYU past Gonzaga before the two teams were WCC rivals, as the Cougars won 89-67 in the Round of 32. The Cougars’ tournament run ended in the Sweet 16 with an overtime loss to Florida.
That was 14 years ago. Since joining the West Coast Conference, BYU has yet to win a Round of 64 game. The Cougars made the tournament four times in the WCC but went 0-3 in the First Round, even losing to Ole Miss in the First Four in 2015.
Now, it’s time for a change.
BYU enters the tournament as one of the hottest teams in the nation.
The Cougars won 14 games in one of the deepest and toughest basketball conferences in the country, finishing ranked 25th in the NET rankings. They are among the most versatile and deepest teams in the country.
In his first season, Kevin Young has BYU playing a style of basketball that could succeed in March. The Cougars are one of just 13 teams ranked in the top 15 in offense and top 70 in defense according to KenPom. They rank 10th in three-pointers made and 11th in assists, and they have a potential first-round NBA Draft pick in Egor Demin.
Additionally, BYU will play in Denver for their first-round matchup against 11-seed VCU. That same location hosted their last Round of 64 victory, when they defeated Gonzaga.
Once again, BYU is a No. 6 seed, just as they were in their last two tournament appearances, both of which ended in disappointing upsets. It’s another demon to exorcise. In fact, if you count the First Four loss to Ole Miss in 2015, the Cougars have lost to an 11-seed in their last three NCAA Tournament appearances.
VCU is no pushover, though. They have a Final Four banner (from 2011) hanging in their gym, something BYU lacks. Plus, VCU is ranked 30th in KenPom. Let’s be honest—they are better than the Duquesne team that shocked BYU last year.
This presents a golden opportunity for the Cougars: another shot at being a six-seed, in the same location where they secured their last tournament win, with a stronger and deeper team under a new coach.
Some experts have BYU pegged for a Sweet 16 or even Elite 8 run.
For most BYU fans, though, it’s simple: “Just win the first game, and see what happens.”
The main goal now is to break those Round of 64 demons.
