BYU basketball: 3 things left to enjoy in the Cougars’ season

Tournament season

The chances are small. But there’s still a shot for the young BYU basketball squad to get hot and stun teams in Vegas. Winning a conference tournament for the first time since 2001 would be the balm that heals all this team’s wounds.

But even failing that, the NIT is almost certain for BYU basketball. Now, nobody is running around, waving their arms with glee at hosting an NIT game. Not when March’s real prize is the NCAAs. But there are some nice things about the nation’s second best postseason tournament.

The atmosphere in the Marriott Center (once it warms up a bit) is great. There are no more listless season ticket holders staring blankly at the court, only offering the occasional clap. The lower bowl is full, tightly knit, and loud.

Every team the Cougars play is a good team, often with 20+ wins on the season, but like the Cougars, just couldn’t put the consistency together.  These make for closely contested, high skill games the local fan doesn’t have to travel to enjoy.

Next: Reliving Jimmer's best games

And finally, it’s just more BYU basketball. And despite pessimism born of inflated expectations being abruptly punctured, that is always an entertaining thing to watch.

Keep watching, true blue fans.