MALIBU, Calif. — While the West Coast Conference Tournament at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas doesn’t start until next week, No. 17 BYU is already in tournament mode as it heads into the regular-season finale.
“It’s winning time. We look at this as the beginning of the postseason,” said senior guard Jake Toolson. “From here on out, every game is an elimination game. We have that mindset.”
The Cougars visit Pepperdine Saturday (4 p.m. MST, CBS SN) with plenty at stake.
BYU, which earned widespread attention with an upset of then-No. 2 Gonzaga last week, boasts a national ranking and an eight-game winning streak.
“That’s all we have left is elimination games. Hopefully, it fuels our guys and helps them focus on the dire urgency of the moment.” — BYU coach Mark Pope
With a victory over the Waves, the Cougars will clinch the all-important No. 2 seed in the WCC Tournament — with a bye all the way to the semifinals on March 9.
If BYU loses, a loss by Saint Mary’s, which plays at Gonzaga — ranked No. 3 nationally — Saturday night, would still give the Cougars the No. 2 seed.
If BYU loses and the Gaels win, BYU will be the No. 3 seed and will play in the quarterfinals next Saturday.
“It’s really important. It gives you a real advantage,” coach Mark Pope said of seeding. “If you get that No. 2 seed, you’re just one game away from having a chance to play in a championship game. … We’re certainly competing for the highest seed we can get.”
“It would be huge if we can go get a win. That puts us in a great spot,” said guard TJ Haws. “We’re in control of that so hopefully we can go get a win.”
The Cougars are also playing for NCAA Tournament seeding. BYU is projected as a No. 6 seed by ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi.
“There’s a lot on the line for us. We talked about elimination games,” Pope said. “That’s all we have left is elimination games. Hopefully, it fuels our guys and helps them focus on the dire urgency of the moment.
“Everything we’re trying to work for is ahead of us. It’s time to double down. All of us worry about human nature,” he added. “We’ve won eight in a row, we’ve had some emotional wins and we just finished Senior Night and we’ve had some time off so you worry about all of those things. This group has fought for a long time to try to put them in (this) position. ... I don’t think they’re taking it for granted. Sometimes wins and streaks soften you a little bit. I don’t think that’s the case with these guys. We’ll see Saturday who we are right now.”
After the high of knocking off the Zags, the Cougars had a bye Thursday, with a chance to refocus and “start to let the anxiety come back of understanding how hard this Pepperdine game is going to be.”
Waves guard Colbey Ross, one of the league’s top players, averages a team-high 20.2 points.
“Colbey Ross is a great player. They set a lot of ball screens and make you guard,” Toolson said. “In transition, they have five guys that can push it. You have to guard them as a team. They offensive rebound and play with so much energy and they can shoot the ball.”
When BYU hosted the Waves on Jan. 30, the Cougars won big, 107-80.
“They still scored 80 points. They’re a really explosive team. They have one of the most difficult-to-guard point guards in the league,” Pope said. “It’s their Senior Night. They have a senior (Kameron Edwards) that’s done a lot for that program.”
BYU has posted a 4-4 record at Firestone Fieldhouse since joining the league.
“They’re a really good team. It’s a smaller gym and sometimes I feel like you have to bring your own energy a little bit,” Haws said. “It’s always a challenge to play there. It’s no different this year. This team is really talented. It’s going to be a battle for 40 minutes.”
“It’s going to be tough. It’s going to be the hardest game of the year because that’s what it’s been like all year long,” Toolson said. “We’ve had big wins and tough losses. The next game is always the most important one and always the hardest. We’re going to have to lock in and focus. We’ll be ready for that.”
No. 17 BYU (23-7, 12-3) at Pepperdine (15-14, 8-7)
Saturday, 4 p.m. MST
Firestone Fieldhouse
TV: CBS SN
Radio: 1160 AM, BYU Radio