BYU Basketball: Why the San Diego game is now the biggest of the year

It seems like we say it every game, “This is the game of the year”. Well, that is because the narrative keeps changing.

We said it against Utah, Saint Mary’s, San Fransisco, and the two game road trip two weeks ago and now we say it again. The next game may be the biggest game of the season.

Saying that sounds like a cop out, a way to get more views or even clickbait, but the reality is, that with the journey that BYU Basketball has taken this season, all of these games have been the biggest at that time.

For example, had BYU beaten San Fransisco last week, we woulds still say that was the biggest game of the year. When they beat Saint Mary’s that was the biggest at the time, but it set the Cougars up for a crucial road trip which made those the biggest games of the year.

Now we sit at final regular season game of the season, San Diego. Although it is not the biggest game of the year in the sense that most would think, it has a lot of off the court implications that do make it in fact, the biggest game of the year.

Reason One: Chances of NIT plummet/rise

If BYU Basketball is unable to find a way to win against San Diego, their chances at making the NIT plummet. Currently, the Cougars are projected to being anywhere from a six seed to one of the first teams out. If BYU wins, they will likely find themselves in the five to seven seed going into the WCC tournament, and barring a terrible loss there to a lower seed, and amazing performances by other teams around the country, the Cougars would likely stay in the tournament.

Losing however, would likely drop them out completely or at an eight seed at the best. Even if they beat their first round team in the WCC Tourney, 19-14 teams from the WCC don’t make the NIT typically. Could it happen? Absolutely, but it would take other teams across the country losing as well to keep them from dropping out.

Reason Two: Transfers/Leaving early

This is directly related to the first reason. If you are Yoeli Childs and you look at the team and see that every year you have been here the team has gotten worse (NIT first round loss as a two seed, NIT first round loss as a six seed, miss NIT) suddenly playing overseas seems like a very good option. Nobody but Yoeli knows what he is thinking, but from a neutral standpoint, it makes sense, and that is something BYU CAN NOT AFFORD. A team without Yoeli Childs next season is a team that I don’t see doing very well. Gavin Baxter would be the only returning offensive post player that has had any significant playing time.

Other players that may leave or transfer include Dalton Nixon and Rylan Bergersen who have seen their playing time taken down and possibly a wild card with one of the seniors who have never made it to the NCAA Tournament (Nick Emery, TJ Haws and Zac Seljaas). It’s a crazy idea, and it hasn’t been talked about but what would keep them from leaving when they could be good players on other teams that would make the Big Dance?

Reason Three: Even less interest

This season, the Marriott Center has averaged about 12,500 in attendance per game. However, attendance is counted as tickets sold to a game, not actual people at the game. That is why there can be a sellout crowd with hundreds of empty seats. So only 12,000 tickets are being sold and maybe two thirds of those are actually people at the game. What interest will fans have next season if the team is coming off their worst year in 14 seasons? Again, with an NIT invite, the team will have a chance to pick up a few more wins and at least end on a high note.

Bringing it all together

It is all a domino effect. Granted things could still go different ways but hear me out.

IF BYU WINS:

• BYU Basketball all but secures an NIT bid
• The Cougars get a few more practices
• Have the potential to win a few games and end on a high note
• Yoeli Childs and other players decide to stay another year, or at least think about it more.
• Interest rises slightly in BYU Basketball going into next season.

IF BYU LOSES:

• BYU Basketball does not get an NIT bid
• The Cougars do not get extra practices
• Yoeli Childs leaves to play overseas seeing no positive future in BYU, other major players consider transferring.
• Interest drops even more for BYU Basketball and the coaching staff is put on the hot seat.