The Big 12 Tournament served as a great challenge for the BYU Cougars, featuring an exciting battle with Iowa State and another showdown with the other Big 12 Cougars. This tournament revealed a lot about the team, and hopefully, they gained valuable insight about themselves.
1. BYU can compete with almost anyone
Time and again, BYU has demonstrated that they can hold their own against nearly any opponent. They have beaten Iowa State—a No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament—twice in the past two weeks, including once on the road. They dominated Kansas in Provo, secured wins against Arizona and Arizona State on their home courts, and finished fourth in a highly competitive Big 12 Conference. All of this is even more impressive considering it’s only their second season in the league.
Coach Young summed it up best: “You’re not punking BYU. We’re doing the punking!”
2. Houston is an elite team
In the semifinals, BYU faced possibly the only team in the Big 12 they haven’t managed to keep up with—yet. And that “yet” carries a lot of weight.
The second 20+ point loss to Houston made it clear why they are among the favorites for the national title and a No. 1 seed in the Midwest region.
Houston boasts the best defensive efficiency in the nation, the second-best scoring defense, and the second-best overall defense.
3. This BYU team has the potential to achieve something special
It has been a long time since BYU last secured a victory in the NCAA Tournament—their last win came against Iona in a First Four matchup back in 2012. At that time, Richie Saunders was just 12 years old.
This BYU squad feels different. The coaching seems different, the players’ mentality appears different. There is an energy surrounding this team that makes it feel like they are capable of doing something extraordinary. This team carries a confidence that BYU hasn’t displayed in quite some time.
This was most evident during the Big 12 quarterfinals against Iowa State. It was the kind of game BYU has often struggled to win in the past—a difficult atmosphere against a strong opponent. But this time, the outcome felt different. The national spotlight is now on BYU.
Even though the tournament didn’t end the way many BYU fans had hoped, there are plenty of positives to take away. Competing in the semifinals of one of the nation’s toughest conferences is no small feat, and it should prepare the Cougars to make a deep postseason run this March.
