Lawless Republic
Fansided

BYU Basketball: The path to the NCAA Tournament

By Adam Gibby

PROVO, UT - DECEMBER 29: Hunter Erickson #0 of the Brigham Young Cougars slam dunks the ball on a breakaway against the Westminster Griffins during the second half of their game December 29, 2021 at the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
PROVO, UT - DECEMBER 29: Hunter Erickson #0 of the Brigham Young Cougars slam dunks the ball on a breakaway against the Westminster Griffins during the second half of their game December 29, 2021 at the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
Dec 11, 2021; Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA; Creighton Bluejays guard Ryan Nembhard (2) taps the ball away from Brigham Young Cougars forward Caleb Lohner (33) in the second half at Sanford Pentagon. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2021; Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA; Creighton Bluejays guard Ryan Nembhard (2) taps the ball away from Brigham Young Cougars forward Caleb Lohner (33) in the second half at Sanford Pentagon. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Win the games that BYU is favored in

The Cougars have done enough this season to this point to just have to hold serve in WCC play. If they do what they are supposed to do in the WCC they should be fine. While Covid is messing things up all over the place, we can assume that BYU is going to play Gonzaga twice, San Francisco twice and Saint Mary’s twice. Outside of those six games, it is anyone’s guess how many other games will take place.

If the Cougars are able to win all the other games and then split with Saint Mary’s and San Francisco (win at home), that SHOULD be just enough to get them into the tournament.

Again, BYU just needs to go 2-4 against the top tier teams and undefeated against everyone else, and I believe that the Cougars will get into the Tourney, albeit on the bubble and possibly having to play in a First Four matchup. Any and every win above that would likely result in moving up a seed line for every additional win.

Home/BYU Basketball