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BYU will play its first-round game in the NCAA Tournament in Portland on Thursday as a No. 6 seed in the West Region. Led by projected No. 1 NBA draft pick AJ Dybantsa, the Cougars hope to ride an uptick in play to extend this “new” season of opportunity.
To help, BYU just finished playing in the nation’s most difficult league. The Big 12 had three of the top seven teams in the field of 68 including No. 2 overall seed Arizona, the No. 5 overall seed in Houston, and No. 7 seed in the tournament, Iowa State. No other league had more than one. BYU was competitive in every one of the games against these teams and defeated Iowa State.
Here is Jay Drew’s breakdown of how Dybantsa can influence a Cougar run in the Big Dance. BYU earned a No. 6 seed because of its finish after struggling when senior Richie Saunders went down for the season with an injury.
A huge challenge for BYU coach Kevin Young in this postseason is there is the potential he will face two outstanding coaches in Sean Miller (Texas) and Mark Few (Gonzaga).
Cougar Insiders predictions
Question of the week: Predict what you expect this week as BYU has the opportunity to play twice in the NCAA West Regional in Portland.
Jay Drew: When he met with reporters via Zoom on Sunday night, BYU coach Kevin Young said NCAA Tournament games often come down to matchups. For that reason, it is tough to predict that the Cougars will make a lengthy NCAA Tournament run, like they did last year.
Whether it is Texas or North Carolina State, the matchup Thursday for BYU does not appear to be favorable. Texas has incredible length and size that could give BYU trouble. The Wolfpack is one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the country, and BYU has trouble defending the 3.
That was even apparent in the Kansas State game last week, as Nate Johnson and PJ Haggerty lit the Cougars up from beyond the arc.
As much as I would like to think that BYU turned the corner defensively in the win over West Virginia and the close loss to Houston, I need to see it Thursday in the pressure inferno that is the Big Dance to fully believe it. So my prediction is a loss for BYU this weekend — either in Round 1 or Round 2, should the Cougars advance.
As for a possible matchup with Gonzaga, that would be all kinds of fun. But I don’t see BYU having an answer for GU’s Graham Ike, especially if Keba Keita can’t stay out of foul trouble. BYU getting to the Sweet 16 this year doesn’t appear to be in the cards — but I’ve been wrong before. Like last year.
Dick Harmon: This will be an interesting week for Kevin Young, because if he’s truly reinvented his team, especially on defense the past two weeks, he could make a run in the NCAAs. Young said a key component of his team’s 3-1 finish is the squad’s competitive spirit. His team wants it. Gone is the 9-9 conference finish. Here is the 2-1 Big 12 tourney performance. Seasoned by playing the NCAA Tournament’s toughest conference foes including Arizona, Iowa State, Houston and Texas Tech, now it’s time to face somebody else.
I think BYU will beat the winner of Texas-North Carolina State because BYU’s defense has improved almost 20 places in Ken Pom over its last four games. While both these teams have outstanding offenses and can light it up, they are both terrible defensive teams. Postseason games are won with defense and, believe it or not, at this stage of the season BYU is better because of the recent change of putting tall, athletic defenders up front to challenge shooters. Still, BYU’s defense has shown it can be fragile. Is that behind them? We’ll see.
If BYU wins Thursday in Portland, they’ll likely face Gonzaga and Mark Few. While this isn’t the Zag team of old, it still has Few’s outstanding influence of playing hard, getting easy paint buckets and athleticism. Plus Portland will be easy for Zag fans to travel to. This will be tough, but doable.
The reason for BYU optimism is Dybantsa. None of these teams have a potential No. 1 draft pick and BYU does. Fresh off a record 40-point game performance in the Big 12 tournament, Dybantsa has seen every type of defense designed by the best Big 12 teams in the nation’s toughest conference, and he still leads the nation in scoring. There isn’t anything he hasn’t faced.
I think BYU’s first game will be influenced by their opponent having to play Tuesday in Dayton, Ohio, and then traveling to Portland where BYU will be rested and anxious to get in a fight.
The bottom line is BYU will go as far as its supporting cast will take it — in support of Dybantsa. This means Kennard Davis, Dominique Diomande, Aleksej Kostic and Keba Keita. I’m not worried about what Robert Wright will bring to the party. It will be tough, but making the Sweet 16 is possible — if BYU plays defense at a high level. It would be extremely disappointing for the Cougars if they go one and done.
Cougar tales
BYU freshman Jane Hedengren sets records in winning NCAA 5,000- and 3,000-meter races, while Carter Cutting won the NCAA mile title at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships. BYU women didn’t make NCAAs but accepted a WBIT bid.
BYU freshman Kihei Akina won the collegiate Lampkin Invitational after finishing in the top 15 of the PGA Tour’s Puerto Rico Open, competing against pros. Here’s Dave McCann’s look at BYU’s Fabulous Four Freshmen.
From the archives
From X-verse
Extra points
- Former Cougars playing in the NCAA Tournament (Deseret News)
- Experience rising up in spring football (Deseret News)
- Big 12 “no tolerance” for anti-Mormon chants (Deseret News)
Fanalysts
Comments from Deseret News readers:
I watched our freshman runner Jane Hedengren win both the 5,000 meter and 3,000 meter races against the country’s best runners. She actually seems to glide over the track and definitely gets stronger at the finish line. When they interview her at the conclusion of each race she is so confident and poised. Jane is representing all of Cougar Nation very well. We get to watch her in action for the next three years and it will be exciting to see her win many races. Congratulations on your victories Jane!
— BoydinProvo
KSU was desperate for points, jacked up 3s by reserves. It was basically a 20 point win. 2 of those in conference tournaments is very impressive, not to mention BYU set a bunch of records. Let’s not minimize what they did.
Clearly the coaches figured something out. The weaklings who wanted him gone are eating crow now. They are an elite coaching staff. I admire all they’ve done. BYU is set for another Sweet 16 run if they play like they did this week. BYU went toe to toe with a 1 or 2 seed with a 2nd year college coach. They destroyed KU with a 20 year plus seasoned coach. Don’t underestimate how good our coaches really are.
— RR
Up Next
- March 18 | TBA | women’s swimming | NCAA championship
- March 19 | TBA | women’s basketball, NCAA Basketball | Alabama A&M
- March 19 | noon | women’s tennis | @ Colorado
- March 19 | 4 p.m. | UCF | men’s tennis | Florida
- March 19 | 4:30 p.m. | baseball | @ West Virginia
- March 19 | 5 p.m. | softball | @ Oklahoma State
- March 19 | 5:25 p.m. | men’s basketball, NCAAs | Portland
- March 20 | 4:30 p.m. | baseball | @ West Virginia
- March 20 | 5 p.m. | men’s volleyball | Concordia
- March 21 | TBA | women’s gymnastics | Big 12
- March 21 | TBA | track and field | @ Utah Tech
- March 21 | 11 a.m. | baseball | @ West Virginia
- March 21 | 11 a.m. | women’s tennis | @ Texa Tech
- March 21 | 11 a.m. | softball | @ Oklahoma State
- March 21 | 7 p.m. | men’s volleyball | Concordia
- March 23 | 8 a.m. | men’s golf | @ Bridgestone Collegiate