Which BYU sport best “Reps the Y”?
By Adam Gibby
Tier Two: BYU sports that have a real argument
Women’s Soccer
Women’s Soccer has been a consistently good team, but not an elite team. To be a “school’s team” you must have elite status, and the soccer team just isn’t quite there. However, their consistency has been good enough to keep them in the argument.
In the last ten seasons the Cougars have played in seven NCAA Tournaments, however they’ve only advanced to the Sweet Sixteen twice. They have also had 11 All-Americans in that time span.
One major thing hurting the Cougars is their record the last two seasons. In 2017, the Cougars failed to have a winning record for the first time since 2004. This season they’re playing better, but they’re not playing well enough to make a case to be considered “BYU’s team”.
Men’s Basketball
The Men’s Basketball team has not done themselves any favors the last five years to be the sport that best represents BYU. Because of their national exposure, though, they fit in this tier.
BYU’s postseason accomplishments are scarce, with no NCAA Championships or even Final Four appearances, but the Cougars have been able to consistently make the NCAA Tournament and often challenge teams for conference championships. Not recently though.
Jimmer Fredette still has a lot of influence all over the globe, which gives credit to BYU. If the Cougars can finally find themselves in a Final Four anytime in the next few years, they’ll have a strong case to become “BYU’s team.”
Women’s Volleyball
The Women’s Volleyball team, like the men’s team, is getting a lot of boost from recent success and postseason play. BYU is currently ranked No.1 nationally. The Cougars only lost one set in the entire month of September and have only dropped six all season.
They’ve finished in the top ten thirteen times, three of which were in the last five years. If you’re making an argument for BYU’s best current team there is no question they’re it, but historically they lack a bit.